Background/Question/Methods
Periodic plant and animal cycles driven by seasonal variations in climate are the most fundamental biotic oscillations connected to human activities.  They set the stage for dynamics of ecosystem processes, determine land surface properties, control biosphere-atmosphere interactions, and affect food production, health, conservation, and recreation.  Phenological data and models at local to national scales have applications related to scientific research, education and outreach, as well as to stakeholders interested in agriculture, tourism and recreation, human health, and natural resource conservation and management.  However, the predictive potential of phenology requires a new data resource—a national network of integrated phenological observations and the tools to access and analyze them at multiple scales.  The USA National Phenology Network (USA-NPN) is an emerging and exciting partnership between federal agencies, the academic community, and the general public to monitor and understand the influence of seasonal cycles on the Nation’s resources.  The goal of the USA-NPN (www.usanpn.org) is to establish a wall-to-wall science and monitoring initiative focused on phenology, the seasonal pulse of the biosphere and thus the gateway to climatic effects on ecosystems and ecosystem services.
Results/Conclusions
The USA-NPN will (1) integrate with other formal and informal science observation networks (e.g., NEON, LTER, Ameriflux, NPS Inventory & Monitoring, Organization for Biological Field Stations, public gardens, conservation groups) including regional phenology networks; (2) utilize and enhance remote sensing products, emerging technologies and data management capabilities; and (3) capitalize on myriad educational opportunities and a new readiness of the public to participate in investigations of nature on a national scale.  In short, USA-NPN offers an interdisciplinary platform for involvement by many science disciplines, and stands in direct service to the US Global Change Research Program.  This talk will emphasize recent progress towards implementation of the USA-NPN, including development of a plant species list for the nation, sampling and monitoring protocols for plants, a data-model and web interface, implementation of a citizen science program (Project BudBurst), emerging collaborations with other networks (e.g., NPS, NEON), data management and staffing plans, the developing animal phenology program, and an emergent remote sensing coordination program.