Do you think that the climate has been a little bit out of wack lately? The South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) is inviting you to join their research team to find out if spring came too soon this year.
Do you think that the climate has been a little bit out of wack lately? The South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) is inviting you to join their research team to find out if spring came too soon this year.
The projects invites all Grahamstown residents who aren’t scientists – students, gardeners, birders, nature lovers or any interested individuals- to help monitor our turbulent Grahamstown climate.
The research is being conducted in an effort to understand how the natural world is responding to climate change. By monitoring the timing of biological functions in plants and animals, SAEON’s Ndlovu node (situated within the Kruger National Park) is attempting to understand and respond to the impact of climate change within South Africa. The Ndlovu node encompasses three projects which involves citizens in assisting researchers based on different aspects which may determine how climate change affects nature. The projects include Birds Eye View which involves observing the first arrival of easily recognisable migrant bird species in their respective areas and then record the arrival dates. Turning a New Leaf aims to monitor spring leafing and autumn leaf drop in deciduous trees while Climate Buddy aims to monitor the opening dates of flower buds.
Biodiversity research manager, Dr Dave Thompson says, "It is important to realise that the need to understand and manage climate-related changes is much broader than simply wanting to be environmental good samaritans." According to Prof Nigel Barker Head of Rhodes University’s Botany Department: "One of the biggest challenges that climate change biologists face in understanding the response of organisms to the environment is that the effect of recent weather events can mask the effect of long term climate change."
Barker says that the impact of these very different factors on plants and animals can only be separated by analysing large amounts of data recorded over decades and ideally sourced from many different localities. This is exactly why SAEON is relying on citizens to be part of the science project. Interested parties can download registration forms from www.ndlovu.saeon.ac.za. Entry forms can be returned via email, by fax (013 735 3544) or post- National Research Foundation/SAEON Ndlovu Node, Private Bag X1021, Phalaborwa, 1390.
