Phenology of the Smokies - Walker Valley

phenology The study of periodic biological phenomena that recur (e.g., flowering and seeding) especially as related to climate.

Phenology was once viewed as a quaint pastime that only naturalists took part in – recording the first Black-throated Green Warbler of the spring or the first Toadshade Trillium in bloom. More recently, however, phenology has taken a more prominent role, as climate change has caused a noticeable shift in when migrating organisms arrive or flowers bloom. These subtle shifts are causing alarm among scientists, who note that not all organisms shift their timing at the same time.  What happens, for instance, when migratory birds start arriving earlier to their breeding grounds, only to find out that important food items (caterpillars and insects) haven’t emerged yet (see Both and Visser 2001, Letters to Nature).

Every year, there are variances to the seasonal cycles of plants and animals.  Most of the time, these variances can be explained. Was it a particulary mild winter?  Was it an unusually wet spring?  Was there a late spring cold snap? Over a period of time, you can even see long-term trends, which may reveal patterns synonymous with climate change.

If you visit this page frequently you will find links to information relative to our region and in particular to the Smoky Mountains and Walker Valley. Tremont has been collecting phenology data since 1985, making it a valuable data set for park managers and scientists.

Last Critters Seen In Fall - a table with information covering various critters living in Walker Valley.

Tremont Phenology Data - a master file kept since 1985 with all the fauna and flora found in Walker Valley.

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