|
|
SeasonWatch Newsletter
November, 2018
Hello SeasonWatch supporter,
Greetings from SeasonWatch!
Winter is coming and bringing a change in the weather. In our country, with its great climatic and habitat diversity, some places are going to experience dipping temperatures while others will remain tropical and warm. Trees around us, in our diverse neighbourhoods, will continue responding to these changes. While change in the environment triggers some trees to shed leaves, this in turn, sets off a series of responses such as bud break or emergence of flower buds. This also means that changes taking place in the climate can lead to trees flowering aberrantly. As an example, Shillong is planning its third Cherry Blossom Festival that begins on 14th November, but the local people have been reporting emergence of blossoms since the third week of October.
Are other trees also changing the timing of their flowering? Let's find out by taking part in the first Winter Tree Quest on 1st and 2nd December. In this newsletter, we are happy to bring you news and updates from the program and thank all our participants who continue to observe trees with us.
Sincerely,
SeasonWatch team
|
|
Featured tree
Arjun Tree
Arjun tree (Terminalia arjuna) or Hole matthi (Kannada) is a tall tree that loves to grow near rivers, so much so that it does well even when partly submerged in water. The trunk of this tree is often buttressed at the base. Canopy is wide and the branches droop downwards. The bark is flaky, exposing the green to brown trunk underneath. Leaves are opposite with a short stalk and grow tightly together giving the tree a dense green appearance. Its flowers are tiny and with long stamens, packed on an inflorescence stalk. Fruits are woody and winged. The tree is very popular as the leaves are used to feed growing silkworms, the bark is used to make a dye, and many parts of the tree are used in medicines. This is also a common avenue tree as it provides a thick, shaded canopy.
|
|
SeasonWatch Quiz
Do you know this tree?
This is a gregarious tree, occurring in broadleaf forests of northern, eastern, and central India. When it occurs, it can dominate a forest stand. The tree belongs to a family of emergent trees with winged fruits. Though India is home to other species in this family, this is the only one found in northern and central India. Still don't know? Solve this anagram for the scientific name of the species:
hoarse abortus
Guess this tree and tell us your answer by writing to us on sw@seasonwatch.in. You can also send us your response using whatsapp on +91 7349567602. Please remember to send us your name along with your answer. Thanks!
The answer to our last quiz is Arjun tree (Terminalia arjuna). Congratulations to the following SeasonWatcher for answering correctly:
Brunda A
|
|
Field report
Teacher's Meet, 2018
Highly motivated teachers, from the southern states of India, met in Bangalore for a two-day event. Teachers came from different districts to meet in a common place and share their experiences. Sessions were organized on the first day to learn about tree identification and data through games, activities, and art. On the second day, we all headed to the Nandi hills for a field trip and also spent sometime sharing stories from teachers and students.
   
Some postcards made by students, sharing their stories, for exchange with other students
This was a great experience for all of us participating in a citizen science project. Participants mostly work by themselves, watching trees in different places, and never get to meet one another. This meeting brought some of us together, where we could learn from one another, and deepen our commitment to watching trees. In future, we look forward to inviting teachers from other states such as Meghalaya to share experiences among our diverse community of participants.
|
|
Upcoming event
Winter Tree Quest, 2018
People across the country are reporting untimely events of flowering in trees. Have you noticed trees flowering and fruiting out of season? There are reports of Amaltas (Cassia fistula) trees flowering through the year, reduction in flowering crop of Mahua (Madhuca indica), early flowering in Burans (Rhododendron arboreum), and aberrant flowering in Cherry Blossom (Prunus cerasoides). These are only a few examples of changing taking place in iconic trees of cultural importance across the country. To learn more, we need your help in collecting scientific data on trees.
We are conducting a country-wide event this winter. This is the first in the series of events that are planned for the coming year. Please take part in the upcoming tree quest and help spread the word in your community. It is a great opportunity to go outdoors and watch trees. The details of this event are below.
When is the event?
1st and 2nd December, 2018
Who can participate?
Anyone with a love for trees and enthusiasm to participate!
How to participate?
- Look at trees around your house or office, in your school or college campus, from a window or on a walk.
- Observe if the trees have leaves, flowers or fruits (see details below on 'how to observe').
- Upload your observation using SeasonWatch app (see details below on 'how to upload').
Which trees species can be observed?
Choose a species from the list of 100+ SeasonWatch trees. See the list here.
How to observe a tree?
- Choose any mature tree from the above list.
- Observe the tree for any or all of these phenophases: fresh, mature or dying leaves, buds and open flowers, unripe, ripe, and split fruits.
- Report their quantity as few (if present in less than one-third of the tree crown) or many (if present in more than one-third of the tree crown)
How to upload observations?
- Use SeasonWatch app to upload your observation. Download the app for free from Google play.
- Register if not already on SeasonWatch.
- Use 'casual observation' feature to record your observation. The app will guide you through the process of adding a tree, marking the location of the tree, and recording and saving your observation.
How much time will this take?
About 5 minutes per observation with a good internet connection.
How many trees can be observed?
You can observe any number of trees you wish.
How many phenophases need to be observed?
At least one phenophase needs to be observed to upload the observation but you can observe as many as you want. Various phenophases that can be observed and reported are: fresh, mature or dying leaves, buds and open flowers, unripe, ripe, and split fruits.
Is there a prize?
Yes. Top contributor (person with most trees observed) will win a prize and top three contributors will get a special mention. Names of all those who observe at least five trees will also be included in our next newsletter.
How to raise queries?
If you have any queries regarding the event, you can reach us on our whatsapp number +91 7349567602. You can also write to us on sw@seasonwatch.in and follow us on facebook and instagram to get updates.
|
|
Recap
A hearty welcome to new SeasonWatchers!
September 2018--October 2018
Individuals: Chandra Sekhar Bandi, Haridev K, Diya, Mittal Gala, Unikrishanan M P, Raju Stiven, Kobita Dass, Meenakshy S, Param, Aditya Das, Kiran Sojan, Kishor K K, Arjun Cheyyur, Nayana, Nitin Prabhakar, Niranjana A P
Schools: Bemannur GUPS Paruthippulli, PPTMYHSS Cherur, AUPS Amayur (south), GUPS Kongad, THS Puthenchira, Madona AUPS, Blosson English School Kainatty,VHSS Kanichukulangara, Vidya Vihar Central School, SAVUP School
Top tree species observed: Rain Tree (Samanea saman), Mango (Mangifera indica), Teak (Tectona grandis), Mulberry Tree (Morus alba), Arjun Tree (Terminalia arjuna)
Total trees observed: 1,651
Total observations: 6,712
Total observation in SW database: 1,94,205
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
