Angelina Anderson, Biology (BA) – How Phenology is Affected By Weather Patterns

This research project examines how climate change may affect the phenology of native and non-native plants along phylogenetic lines. The purpose of this project is to determine whether changing phenology, specifically the day of flowering in the midwest region, being consistent along phylogenetic lines can be used to determine if climate change is occurring. This analysis was conducted by looking at online records from inaturalist and herbarium records to find past information regarding native and non-native plant flowering, as well as utilizing NOAA to determine weather trends that may have a correlation to the day of flowering. Through observational and statistical analysis, I identify a correlation between day of flowering trends and weather patterns in the midwest region. The aims of this project are to determine whether day of flowering trends are changing due to changes in weather and if so if these changes are consistent across phylogenetic lines. This project may help to answer whether or not there is any correlation between weather changes in recent years and flowering patterns, as well as possibly helping to explain why native or non-native plants are more successful in the face of these weather patterns.