Activity 2: Selection of species and phases

One scientific effort, which has to be made by long experienced experts, is the selection of species and their phases, that should be allocated in the common European reference data set of phenological observations. It is evident, that wild plants are better indicators of climate characteristics than cultured and genetically altered plants. There are a lot of varieties of many species, that are to be carefully assessed as possible candidate for a reference data set. Important will be species common in whole Europe, because their phases are often used as a seasonal criteria.

 

Phenological phases or growth stages of plants under observation are for instance: Sprouting, Leaf unfolding, First flowers open, Coloring of leaves, Falling of leaves or First ripe fruits. Widely spread plants in Europe are Robinia pseudoacacia, Betula, Fagus, Quercus, Sambucus nigra, Corylus, and others yet to be defined.