PhenoCam: An Ecological Observatory Network

Ecosystems have natural rhythms that include the timing of plant flowering and senescence, which govern a diverse array of biological processes. These phenological rhythms, which are sensitive to day length, temperature, and precipitation, are changing as climate regimes shift, and scientists are working to understand these changes.

PhenoCam is a global ecological observatory that collects and distributes phenology data in different ecosystems around the world. Coordinated by the University of Northern Arizona and the University of New Hampshire, PhenoCam is the largest cooperative of its kind and supports phenology data collection for the National Science Foundation’s National Ecological Observation Network (NEON). 

Phenology cameras are digital cameras that track plant phenology, the seasonal changes in plants. Photos are automatically uploaded to the PhenoCam Gallery and made publicly available. By collecting this kind of data, researchers can determine how plant phenology is changing over time, and what factors have the largest impact on those changes. 

You may find PhenoCam images from the Temple Ambler Field Station here.