Phenology

The phenology ( ancient Greek φαίνω p ʰ Aino " I appear " and -logy ) is concerned with the flow in periodically recurring development phenomena in nature and the Phänometrie with the detection of these phenomena.

Phenology mainly deals with biological processes in the context of ecology and biogeography. The occurrence times of characteristic phenomena are recorded in a phenological calendar. This divides the phenological year in physiologically and biologically founded ten phenological seasons and is based on characteristic stages of development of typical plants ( phenological indicator plants ) and on the behavior of the animals.

Originally from the phenomenology of Agro meteorology, the phenology has been found in modern times in particular, as a powerful calibration tool for climate and weather models, and is focused on climatological and meteorological research institutions worldwide treated. Of importance is also for climate change research.

Phenological Calendar

The occurrence of the phenological seasons is locally significantly different and also differs in different years. For this reason they do not coincide with those bonded to fixed start and end dates astronomical and meteorological seasons. But in agriculture it is the phenological seasons to help the farmers to assess, apply and what works for his land.

For some events (such as apple blossom ) there are far reaching back observations from which to draw conclusions about the evolution of the climate in the 2nd millennium can be drawn. For the 20th century can be seen that the spring phases occur earlier and earlier, which can be attributed to the influence of global climate change according to current knowledge.

Phenological indicator plants

Wild plants are selected by region type, when they are often or easily observed:

• Sycamore, heather, anemones, larch, spruce, lilac, spring snowflake, birch, hazelnut, blueberry ( blueberry ), Autumn crocus, dandelion, black locust, horse chestnut, beech, goat willow, blackthorn, snowdrops, black elderberry, stem - oak, rowan ( mountain ash ), Wild Strawberry, meadows, orchard grass, small-leaved lime

Crops from agriculture and fruit:

• Maize, oilseed rape, winter cereals, spring cereals (oats, barley, wheat, rye), sunflower, late potato, sugar beet, cultivated apple, apricot (apricot ), red currant ( red currant ), sweet cherry, noble vine, plum / prune

Ornamental plants in the garden, this is selected depending on the observing program a certain type ornamental:

• Witch hazel (Hamamelis x intermedia ), Autumn Flowering Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), forsythia ( Forsythia suspensa ), Chinese Lilac (Syringa x chinensis ), European mock orange ( Philadelphus coronary )

Phenology of animal behavior

In addition, we recorded the behavior of animals, such as the first fly the bee, the first Butterfly ( Small Tortoiseshell, Small White, Brimstone ), the first cuckoo, cockchafer, or migration (the first barn swallow ), the awakening from hibernation, mating behavior and others. Thus one can, on the one about missing a stock indicator plant, or the regional or present bridge switching to another in records, and on the other, expand the phenological phases in the period of vegetative dormancy as well as on extreme and altitudes.

Phenological seasons in Central Europe

The phenological year is divided into ten physiologically - biologically based so-called " phenological seasons ", which are characterized by specific phenological indicators ( conducting phases ).

Early Spring

The early spring usually begins in late February or early March. It is displayed by the first bloom of hazelnut, snowdrops, black alder and willow, the full flowering of the winter jasmine, in the Alps the sprouting of mountain maple. Once the excess winter moisture has disappeared from the shelves, begins the agricultural activity that ends with the sowing of the summer crop.

Erstfrühling

The subsequent Erstfrühling manifested by the flowering forsythia, gooseberry and currant, later of cherry, plum and pear, of Blackthorn and maple. The summer grain rises, grows green permanent grassland. Leafing, first horse chestnut and birch, about a week later, beech, linden and maple. The farmers start setting of potatoes and sowing of sugar beet.

Full spring

The full Spring is characterized by the flowering of cultivated apple and lilac, and later of raspberry. The full Spring usually starts in late February in the south west of Portugal and reached about 90 days later, about 3,600 km away, Finland. He moved to Europe so northward to about 40 km per day. The English oak leaf. In the fields, the sugar beet and potatoes run on which accrued in the previous year winter cereals schoßt.

Early summer

The early summer usually falls in June. It blooming grasses, meadow foxtail, black elderberry, hawthorn, forest goat's beard and Poppy. During the winter rye already flowering, the first spikes, panicles show up at the other cereals ( stem elongation ). Early summer is also the time the hay and for many allergy sufferers the start of the hay fever season.

Midsummer

In mid-summer blooming summer linden, chicory and potato; in the gardens ripe currants. The most important agricultural event is the grain harvest, which begins with the cutting of winter oilseed rape. It follows the harvest of winter barley, in the end, finally, the winter rye and oats.

Late summer

In the late summer of already mature numerous fruits such as early apple, pear rock and early plum, but also the rowan. At the same time begins the flower of the heather and the fall anemone. The grain harvest is almost complete; the second hay crop ( second crop ) takes place.

Early autumn

Indicator plants for the beginning early fall are now finally the flowering autumn crocus and the onset of maturity of black elderberry and hazelnut. Be harvested now, among other pears and plums.

VollherbstDruck

Only mature in full autumn oak, horse chestnut, quince and walnut. During this time, many wild trees begin to change color their leaves, including horse chestnut, beech, oak, ash and self-climbing Virginia creeper ( " Wilder Wein "). In the culture trees ( fruit trees) already the leaves are falling. Are harvested now late potatoes, beets and apples. It starts the sowing of winter crops.

Late autumn

Once the wild trees ( oak, horse chestnut ) shed their leaves, the late autumn begins. The winter grain rises. With the temperature falls the work is gradually adjusted in agriculture. With the end of the leaf-fall late fall usually ends in mid / late November.

Winter

In winter, all the trees have lost their leaves (apart from frühjahrsabwerfenden trees, as some oaks or beeches, and occasional evergreen deciduous trees ). The winter grain on running. In addition, there is a broad dormancy. The phenological winter is about the end of November / beginning of December to mid / late February.