Monitoring Phenology on Mount Tecumseh

by Jim VanGyzen, Plymouth State University Graduate Research Assistant

As the summer progresses and eventually welcomes the cool air of fall, here at the Margret and H.A. Rey Center we are continually monitoring our research transect located on Mount Tecumseh. This transect, maintained in partnership with Plymouth State University's Center for the Environment, is an on going research site that will eventually create a new phenology database. Our last field visits were 7/15, 7/16, and 7/23.  With the help of two REU students (Research for Undergraduates program), we assessed tree health of each of our 28 trees. On top of that we recorded species inventory of six herbaceous plots. The monitoring of phenology and phenophases requires time intensive field visits, which will kick into full swing with our observations of fall color change and leaf drop.  Over time, this research will provide data on phenology of our northern mixed hardwood forests, which will in turn help us understand the climatic changes that we are enduring each passing year. This transect is spread over the entire length of the Mt. Tecumseh trail which during a humid day with passing thundershowers can create some difficulty, but the information gained from these experiences shall create new insight to our environment.