Regional Invasive Species & Climate Change Research to Practice Paper: Where there is a when there is a way. Shifting phenology & windows of opportunity for control

Phenology—the timing of seasonal life-cycle events such as leafout, flowering, fruiting, and senescence—is a critical aspect of plant growth and reproduction. Planning management activities around these stages is important for effective invasive species management. Climate change is likely to shift the timing of plant phenological stages, altering the ideal treatment calendar. Therefore, understanding how climate change shifts a plant’s phenology will improve the timing and efficacy of best management practices. Closer monitoring of environmental cues will help track and predict phenological stages to adjust management accordingly.