Phenology as a Measure of Climate Change

Question: Discuss about thePhenology as a Measure of Climate Change. Answer: Introduction Phenology is the study of the cycle of lives of animals and plants in relation to the environmental conditions. Climatic change has brought about shifts in phenology in many species of plants and animals in Australia just like across the whole world (Hannah, 2011). There has been no ideal yardstick for measuring the shift, but in some cases, the change in the abundance of an organisms food and other natural supplies is used to measure the change. Issues such as migrations of animals and birds from one region to another show how the climatic changes have impacted phenology in Australia. Due to the climatic change in Australia, there has been a significant shift in the time when the four main seasons occur. The temperatures have been observed to rise earlier than before in spring and stay warmer even after the kick-off of the fall season (Lerner Lerner, 2008). By monitoring the plants and noting when they bud and flower as well as when their leaves fall one can clearly see that there is a significant effect of the climatic change on the plant life and this can be used to figure out seasonal patterns and also help scientists to predict the future. The migration of different species of fishes is another aspect that can be utilized as a measure of climate change in Australia. There is an observable difference between the timings that the turtles and birds migrated from one region to another. Currently, the migrations happen earlier or later than they used to occur in the earlier days and this is because of changes in the climatic conditions (Hudson Keatley, 2010). The destinations, in which the migrations used to have, also have significantly changed as a result of the shift in the environmental conditions in water and land. The observable extinction of some species of plants and animals is a measure of climatic change in the world. Some animals that existed some years ago have all died because the climatic conditions were no longer fit for their survival (Souter Lewthwaite, 2007). One familiar example is the extinction of the desert rat-kangaroo in Australia decades ago. Studies show that some plant species have also got to the level of extinction as a result of the shift in the climatic conditions (Potential effects of climate change on forests and forestry in Australia, 2011). Close observance of the extinction patterns in both plant and animal life can be used by scientists to gauge the climatic changes. The introduction of new species of plants and animals is a measure that can be used to trace the climatic change across Australia. New species of plants have started growing and thriving in areas that they never existed before (Morison Morecroft, 2006). Close observation of the new species in both plant and animal life in Australia can be used to trace the changes in the climate and also help to foretell the future occurrences. References Hannah, L. (2011). Climate change biology. Burlington, MA: Academic Press. Hudson, I. Keatley, M. (2010). Phenological research. Dordrecht: Springer. Lerner, B. Lerner, K. (2008). Climate change. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, Cengage Learning. Morison, J. Morecroft, M. (2006). Plant growth and climate change. Oxford: Blackwell Pub. Noormets, A. (2009). Phenology of Ecosystem Processes. Dordrecht: Springer. Potential effects of climate change on forests and forestry in Australia. (2011). Canberra, A.C.T. Rumpff, L. (2008). Potential biological indicators of climate change. Melbourne: Victorian Dept. of Sustainability and Environment. Schmidt, G., Scho?nrock, S., Schro?der, W. Plant phenology as a biomonitor for climate change in Germany. Schwartz, M. Phenology. Souter, N. Lewthwaite, K. (2007). Nature in a changing climate. Hatfield, Herts.: Association for Science Education.