Have you ever wondered how biologists figure out how plants respond to drought, heat, cold, and other environmental factors? 

One way is to study phenology. That’s a fancy word that accounts for seasonal and cyclical growth patterns of plants and animals. Researchers can look at various attributes, like when a plant flowers, leafs out, drops leaves, and more, and then see how that correlates to environmental factors, weather, climate, and genetics.

Today, our guest is Dr. Hanna Makowski, and she tells us all about her research at Black Rock Forest in New York - and why she’s had to become proficient with a shotgun!

Dr. Makowski shares her work on understanding the variations in leaf-out and leaf-drop phases among trees, the genetic and environmental factors driving these changes, and the broader implications for biodiversity and climate change adaptation.

Black Rock Forest is a special place for this kind of research, because it is at a transition zone where southern species and northern species meet. I know that I want to visit if I ever find myself in that part of New York.

Dr. Makowski’s findings could be helpful for tree conservation efforts and predicting forest resilience in the face of global climate shifts.

You can find Dr. Makowski on her website at www.hannamakowski.com, on twitter @hannamakowski, and on LinkedIn.

FULL SHOW NOTES

LINKS
Black Rock Forest

Hillary Cooper - Dr. Makowski referenced Hillary Cooper’s study on Fremont Cottonwood phenology

Sarah Fitzpatrick of Michigan State

The Yard of the Future Podcast

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Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz Music
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
Artist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com

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