Vascular synphenology of plant communities around Cambridge Bay, Victoria Island, Nunavut during the growing season of 2014

• Main Authors: McLennan, Donald, Pedersen, Angulalik
• Format: Dataset
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Cryospheric Information Network 2015
• Subjects: Arctic; Cambridge Bay; Climate change; Phenology; Plants; Temperature; Vegetation; Victoria Island; Polar Knowledge Canada/Canadian High Arctic Research Station; Nunavut; Canada; Global warming; victoria island
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.21963/12531; https://www.polardata.ca/pdcsearch/?doi_id=12531

The phenology (the timing of life cycle events) of the most representative vascular species in ecosystems around Cambridge Bay (synphenology) has been recorded during the growing season of 2014, during the months of June and July. The different phenological stages of vegetative (leaf) and generative (flower and seed) development of selected plant species were documented by digital photographs. No phenology stage were attributed to the plants, only photos are provided as data. The phenological development of plant species is strongly dependent on seasonal variations in environmental factors, especially temperature. Phenological records of entire plant communities over periods of many years can serve therefore as invaluable proxies for interannual changes in temperature due to climate change and global warming. : Purpose: The phenology of the most representative vascular species in plant communities around Cambridge Bay (synphenology) has been recorded during the summer of 2014. Plant species in different stages of leaf and flower development have been photographed. Phenological development is strongly influenced by seasonal variations in environmental factors, especially temperature, therefore phenological records over many years represent an invaluable proxy for interannual changes in temperature due to climate change. : Summary: The date of leaf and flower development of plants around Cambridge Bay have been recorded in the summer of 2014 around Cambridge Bay, Victoria Island, Nunavut. The timing of plant development depends strongly on temperature variations, therefore a record of seasonal plant development over many years can serve as an indicator of change in climate due to global warming.