[HubbardBrook] Hubbard Brook phenology forecast

[Matthew P. Ayres]

Greetings Hubbard Brook community,
We are pleased to provide an updated phenology forecast. I was impressed by some of the recent warm days (and nights!), but, contrary to my impressions, the predicted date of budburst has retreated by three days since the last forecast. Under the update forecast, the median date of arrival by black-throated blue warblers will now precede budburst by about 3 days, and budburst will be about two days later than that expected for 2024 under the 70-year records. (Spoiler alert. Don't worry about the birds! They are adapted to interannual variation in when the summer begins.

This weekend just past, I was able to validate that the trees had still not leafed out near the bird plots. If you scroll below, you can find an image taken near Weir 6 on Sunday afternoon.

Based on our current best phenology models (after Lany et al. 2016), temperatures to date this year, and the 10-day forecast as of 1 May 2024, predictions for the mid-elevation bird plot (490 m asl) are:

·        Budburst = 15 May,

·        90% completion of leaf expansion = 26 May,

·        Median date of arrival and first clutch initiation for Black-throated Blue Warblers = 12 May and 1 June, respectively.
More details in enclosure.

While you are enjoying the spring, consider that already last fall each bud on the sugar maples, beeches, birches, etc. already contained all of the cells required to produce the cluster of leaves that will be rapidly produced in the next weeks by each bud. Here is a time lapse video of a sugar maple bud in my backyard last spring.
Sugar maple bud to sugar maple leaves<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMi6YRvioLM>
The process depicted occurred over about 230 °days > 4 °C

Feel free to share this with anyone who may be interested. We will aim to provide continuing updates of the forecasts.

Enjoy the spring! There's only a few days a year like this.
Matt

[cid:image001.png at 01DA9BFD.5329F220]


[cid:image002.png at 01DA9BFD.DC572220]

Matthew P. Ayres<http://www.dartmouth.edu/~mpayres/> (h/h)
Professor of Biological Sciences<https://biology.dartmouth.edu/>; Co-Chair Graduate Program in Ecology, Evolution, Environment & Society<http://sites.dartmouth.edu/EEES/>; Senior Faculty Fellow Institute of Arctic Studies<https://dickey.dartmouth.edu/programs/arctic-environment/institute-arctic-studies>
Life Sciences Center
78 College Street
Hanover, NH  03755  USA
603 646-2788
matthew.p.ayres at dartmouth.edu<mailto:matthew.p.ayres at dartmouth.edu>

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