How is phenology changing as the climate changes, and what are the implications for ecological communities?
Changes in phenology (the timing of life cycle events such as bud burst, insect emergence, bird migration, etc) have been important early indicators of climate change. The effects of shifting phenology may cascade through ecological levels, from altered physiology and performance of individuals, to population dynamics, community interactions and ecosystem processes. We are using a combination of field studies, common garden experiments, and historical databases to ask how phenological changes influence species interactions, population dynamics, and species coexistence.
