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Live Oak Phenology Network (LOPnet)

The purpose of this collaborative network is to monitor flowering time phenology in live oak species across a latitudinal gradient and to compare phenological variation to interspecific genetic differentiation and climatic patterns.

Quercus virginiana	Q. virginiana	Q. geminata	Q. minima

Photos of three live oak species in the SE US (photo copyrights: J. Cavender-Bares).

Spring workshop at ACE Basin Research Reserve, South Carolina, at the McKenzie Field Station, Feb. 15-17, 2008.

LOPnet Participants and Monitoring Regions

Brion Capo
Steven Brewer University of North Carolina-Wilmington

Jennifer Spicer North-Inlet – Winyah Bay Reserve, SC

Saundra Upchurch ACE Basin Reserve, SC

Dorset Hurley Sapelo Island Reserve, GA

Kaoru Kitajima
Martijn Slot
Claudia Romero University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

Martin Quigley University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL

Susan Leitholf
Rookery Bay Reserve, Naples, FL

Map showing overlapping geographic distributions of Q. virginiana (hashed) and Q. geminata (gray) and monitoring regions of the live oak phenology network (red circles).

Procedures for standardization of phenology monitoring:

In each of the regions, five sites should be selected with up to ten naturally growing (not planted) mature trees of Quercus geminata, and Q. virginiana (Q. minima if possible). Note that in many regions, it may be very difficult to find Q. minima. The locations and the trees within each location should be selected to cover the range of local conditions in which live oaks occur. The goal is to capture both within and among-site variation.
Trees should be monitored as often as possible during the flowering period (every few days or at least once per week).
Locate a source for daily climate data: daily minimum temperature, daily humidity and temperature (for calculation of VPD); and rainfall. Compile the data to contribute.
For each tree, record reproductive phenology as follows:

Male flowers present (MF), Male flowers present but dehisced (MFD), female flowers present (FF), and immature green acorns (IGA). This is sufficient for the study. Note that in our work, we have often continued to record acorns green and of mature size (MGA), brown mature acorns (MBA), acorns falling or fallen (AF), if this is of interest to you.
Record the percent foliage cover relative to maximum foliage cover for each focal tree (0%, 25%, 50%,75%, 100%). Take a photograph (digital preferred) standing 10 m from the base of the tree at peak abcission (minimum foliage).. Mark the photo with site and tree #.
From each tree, collect several leaves, labelled in separate plastic bags, and send them fresh to:
- Jeannine Cavender-Bares
  Ecology, Evolution and Behavior
  University of Minnesota
  1987 Upper Buford Circle
  St. Paul, MN 55108, Tel: (612) 624-633

Images of phenological stages:


Female flowers (FF)	Male flowers (MF)	Immature green acorns (IGA)

Photo copyrights: N. Deacon, N. Deacon and J. Cavender-Bares

Example LOPnet data sheet: (Download sample Excel file)