New Book from CVMN Member Ben Shrader Now Available for Pre‑Order

Are You a Master Naturalist Multitasker?

Explore CVMN’s new online catalog of borrowable outreach and education materials, now just a click or QR scan away.

Plant phenology, or the timing of seasonal growth, flowering, and fruiting, is a critical bioindicator of ecological responses to climate change. Shifts in phenological timing can cascade through ecosystems, influencing species interactions, migration, and resilience. The Appalachian Trail (A.T.) corridor, stretching 2,198 miles through 14 states and spanning nearly 2,000 meters in elevation, serves as a “mega-transect” for studying these changes across broad climatic gradients. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, consisting of the treadway and approximately 300 meter buffer, is part of the National Park system and benefits from long-term federal protections to conserve natural and cultural resources across the trail. The Appalachian landscape has been recognized nationally as an important migratory corridor and a key region for biodiversity and building resilience to climate change. Monitoring plant phenology long-term across broad spatial scales and mountainous terrain presents challenges, but community science provides a practical solution.