Have you heard of Calender Plants? We know that the Aborigines were intimately aware of their environment and nurtured a precise knowledge and understanding of the local flora. The regular onset of flowering and/or fruiting by specific plants was read like a calendar, indicating the appropriate time for the collection of molluscs, crabs, fruits and other events. For example Acacia sophorae when flowering and fruiting would indicate the migration of whales up and down the coast. Acacia longifolia when flowering, the Aborigines of the Sydney region knew it was the right time to fish for mullet. Phenology studies the timing of these recurring natural phenomena Collecting and analysing information on complex phenological changes is useful in understanding our environment better and consequently can be a useful tool in the study and understanding of climate change. There is a web site called ClimateWatch which is attempting to collect this information but the task is immense and it is seeking input from the community. If you wish to know more, have a look at the link below. earthwatch.org/australia/get_involved/climatewatch/
Posted on: Thu, 10 Oct 2013 02:43:26 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015