Old Plants, New Tricks: Phenological Research Using Herbarium Specimens.

Area of Science:

• Botany
• Ecology
• Climate Change Science

Background:

• Plant phenology, including leaf-out and flowering times, is crucial for plant success and adaptation.
• Studying phenological shifts is vital for predicting plant responses to climate change.
• Current phenological research is often constrained by limited temporal, geographic, or phylogenetic data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current state of phenological research utilizing herbarium specimens.
• To identify potential biases and limitations in herbarium data collection, digitization, and interpretation.
• To discuss future opportunities for phenological studies using herbarium collections.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on herbarium-based phenological research.
• Analysis of data accessibility and quality from digitized herbarium collections.
• Identification of common challenges and biases in herbarium specimen data.

Main Results:

• Herbarium specimens provide a valuable, large-scale data source for phenological studies.
• Digitization efforts are significantly enhancing access to these historical plant records.
• Potential biases exist in specimen collection and digitization that require careful consideration.

Conclusions:

• Herbarium specimens are a powerful tool for advancing phenological research and understanding climate change impacts on plants.
• Addressing data limitations through careful methodology is key to leveraging herbarium resources effectively.
• Future research can greatly benefit from the continued digitization and analysis of herbarium collections.