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Sonoran Desert Phenology Calendar Photo credits: Steve Amesbury. Phenology: an introduction What is phenology? Phenology is the study of the timing of cyclic or seasonal plant and animal life cycle events that are influenced by environmental conditions, including variations in weather and climate. Derived from the Greek words phaino, which means “to appear”, and logos, which means “to study”, the observation of phenological events (termed “phenophases”) in nature has been going on for millennia: the earliest humans observed and planned their lives around plants' growing seasons and the presence of animals for hunting. Written records of plant and animal phenology are available from hundreds of years back, including cherry blossom timing in Japan and grape harvesting in Europe. Why is phenology important? Phenology is nature’s “biological clock”, an integrated measurement of the interactions between the atmosphere and the Earth. Phenology is valuable in many ways: · Phenology relates to human issues like agricultural production, health (e.g., allergies, timing of vector-borne diseases) and recreation and tourism · Phenological patterns relate to environmental change due to altered climate and ecosystems; thus phenology can be utilized in natural resource conservation and management · Phenology can be assessed and monitored at different scales that relate to individual plants or animals, populations, communities and/or ecosystems, offering a potent look into those systems’ health and functioning What causes phenology? The three key environmental drivers of phenology are photoperiod (length of daylight hours), temperature, and the availability of moisture. The combination and interaction of these three drivers impose complex and varying controls on phenology events in different parts of the globe. · Photoperiod provides plant and animal species with a consistent annual climatic signal. Photoperiod can trigger the growth and death of leaves and animals’ biological clocks, e.g., reproduction, migration, and molting of feathers or fur. · Temperature can regulate growth and development patterns of plant and animal species. Many plants require a chilling period for their seeds to grow; other plants and animals go dormant in either very hot or very cold seasons. In temperate areas plant phenology is often driven by the combination of photoperiod and temperature. · Moisture availability (e.g., rain or snow) is important for plant and animal species because it affects the ability and rate of cell division, for example in leaves and in eggs of amphibians. Water limitation is especially important in the deserts of the world, and the combination of precipitation and photoperiod affects phenology in the tropical areas of the world. Measurement of phenology Every living thing experiences and responds to the changing of seasons. Thus, we can observe phenology in individual plants or animals, populations of the same or different species, and entire communities, as each member responds to changes in light, moisture, temperature, and even the phenophases of other organisms. Observation of phenological events includes noting, for example, when individual flowers appear on a rose bush, when different rose bushes flower, when bees begin to show up to pollinate the roses, and what other plants the bees also pollinate at that time. Tools for observing phenology include the human eye of course, as well as cameras, satellites, and tools to measure the amount of pollen in the air or bacteria in the soil. Phenology can be measured across minutes, hours, days, and months, and changes in the timing of phenological events can be measured across seasons or among years to millennia. Photo credits: National Park Service. Phenology: examples Plant Phenology The most readily visible example of phenology is in the leafing, flowering, and fruiting of plants. The phenology of trees can be especially interesting to study because specific individuals can often be monitored for long periods of time. This helps to reduce the effects of individual variation in the timing of phenological events, making trees potentially a more sensitive tool for identifying changes in phenological timing caused by global climate change. Trees show a variety of phenophases in the development of leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds. Each of these features functions in different ways in the lives of trees -leaves are needed for photosynthesis and growth, flowers are the organs of reproduction, and fruits and seeds are involved in plant dispersal – and each responds to different environmental factors. The cycle of leaf development from bud to deciduous leaf fall is related to rainfall, day length, and temperature. Flower development is often timed to correspond with the availability of pollinators. Fruit and seed production may be influenced by the presence of seed dispersal agents like wind and fruit-eating animals. Thus it is possible that the seasonal patterns of each of these phenophases is linked to different environmental cues and may be affected in different ways by environmental change. Animal Phenology Birds, fish, and mammals such as deer and bobcat are all attuned to the seasons of the Earth. Some of the most studied phenological events are the mass migrations of animals between regions, continents and even globally (e.g., whale and sea bird migrations across entire oceans). Animals such as snowshoe hares, elk and deer change the way they look, becoming a different color or growing antlers based on seasonal changes, and bears and amphibians will hibernate during inhospitable seasons. Insect populations are also attuned to the rhythms of climate. Population dynamics are often controlled by climate variables like temperature, which restricts survival and precipitation, which restricts reproduction for species whose young rely on standing water. Insects are also important members of a complex ecology where species interact on multiple levels. Plants often provide food and, in return, many insects help plants pollinate. Disruption of the cycle of one species might therefore have significant consequences on another species. Insects also act as pests by destroying crops or seriously damaging other vegetation. They can also act as disease vectors for pathogens such as West Nile Virus and Dengue Fever. Thus the phenology of insects is highly tied to the phenologies of other animals, plants, and human systems. Photo credits: Amanda Barnard, National Park Service. Phenology and humans Economics. Human activities are in large part affected by the environmental context within which particular communities live, and economic activities are not an exception. Phenological events (especially those driven by temperature and precipitation) are routinely taken into account when engaging in agriculture, cattle ranching, wildlife management, tourism, regional fruit harvesting, and every other activity that involves a live component and therefore life cycles. Examples wherein phenology constitutes an important tool for economic activities include controlling crop plague, determining suitable crops for a specific season, determining the best time for the harvesting of game species or regional fruits, etc. Disease. For thousands of years it has been observed that many human diseases are more likely to occur during specific times of the year, such as influenza and the common cold. Unlike most phenological phenomena, human diseases with a phenological signature are typically most active in the winter. In addition to the common phenological diseases that are experienced across the globe, inhabitants of the Sonoran Desert are vulnerable to unique diseases that are only experienced by a few regions in the world, such as coccidioidomycosis or "valley fever". Invasive species. Exotic invasive plants often experience different phenological responses than native plants to annual and seasonal changes in temperature and precipitation, differentiating them functionally from natives. Frequently invasive species are found to respond to precipitation faster than natives and set flower sooner, drawing soil moisture down and extracting nutrients otherwise available to natives. Understanding the phenology of invasive species is critical to management and control efforts; chemical and manual treatments depend on the status of the soil and the phenology of the plant. Phenology in the Sonoran Desert Unique climate, unique phenology The Sonoran Desert, spanning parts of southwestern USA and northwestern Mexico (shown in the bottom right, as defined by the World Wildlife Fund), has two rainy seasons but is overall hot and dry. These climatic features result in unique phenological traits of the species living in this biome. Light is rarely limiting and temperatures rarely stay below freezing; overall there is high sensitivity of both plants and animals to the availability of water and the avoidance of extreme heat. Many plants can respond to specific rainfall events, flowering numerous times in one growing season; both plants and animals can become dormant in times of drought. These characteristics provide unique opportunities and challenges in observing and measuring phenology in the Sonoran Desert. The above graph summarizes the climate of the Sonoran Desert using temperature and precipitation data from the Arizona Meteorological Network (http://ag.arizona.edu/AZMET/). Three points in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona (Tucson, Yuma and Paloma) for the period 1992-2007 were used to generate daily averages for high (red line) and low (blue line) temperatures, and the probability of precipitation (green line). In addition, the daily high (red dot) and low (blue dot) temperatures experienced over the entire period are plotted to give readers the sense of the range of temperatures that may be experienced during specific times of the year. Similar climate figures were made for each month. Photo credits: Andy Fisher, National Park Service. Related links: There are countless sources of information about phenology on the internet. Below are a few links that provide overviews of phenology and its use in monitoring the state of the planet; each contains many more links of interest. - Project Budburst http://www.windows.ucar.edu/citizen_science/budburst/ - Monarch Watch http://monarchwatch.org - USA National Phenology Network: http://www.usanpn.org - University of California Santa Barbara Phenology Stewardship Program: http://www.ucsbphenology.christophercosner.com - Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Migratory Pollinators Program: http://www.desertmuseum.org/pollination - Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: http://www.ipcc.ch About this Calendar: This calendar was produced as a final project for the class “The Geography of Phenology” (GEOG696C) in the Department of Geography and Regional Development at the University of Arizona. Contributors to the development of the calendar include Dr. Willem J.D. van Leeuwen (instructor), Steven Stewart Amesbury, Armando Barreto Muñoz, Jennifer Davison, Jahan Kariyeva, Cory W. Morin, Aaryn Dyami Olsson, Jose Raul Romo Leon and James Derek Tamerius. Sources: -http://www.saguaro-juniper.com/i_and_i/cacti/saguaros/harvest/saguaro_fruit.html -http://edc.usgs.gov/guides/avhrr.html -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SPOT -http://geo.arc.nasa.gov/sge/landsat/lpchron.html -http://www.itc.nl/research/products/sensordb/Launch_Schedule.aspx -http://www.sonoraturismo.gob.mx/caceria-en-sonora.htm -http://www.whatbird.com/ Special Thanks: -http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/ We would like to acknowledge the following parties for the information and pictures that made this project possible: - Epple, Anne Orth. 1995. A field guide to the plants of Arizona. Falcon, Guilford, CN. T. Beth Kinsey and The Firefly Forest http://fireflyforest.net/firefly/ - Veronica Cornonado Peraza - The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum http://www.desertmuseum.org/ - The National Parks Service http://www.nps.gov/ - USGS Arizona Water Science Center http://az.water.usgs.gov/ - Rogelio Lizarraga www.bamury.com - Don Knight, Stephen Minter, and Mark Dimmitt, ASDM Sonoran Desert Digital Library. - Kearney, Thomas H., and Robert H. Peebles. 1951. Arizona flora. University of California Press, Berkeley. - McGinnies, William G. n.d. Flowering period for common desert plants, southwest Arizona. Office of Arid Lands Studies, College of Agriculture, University of Arizona. - Phillips, Steven J., and Patricia Wentworth Comus, eds. 2000. A natural history of the Sonoran Desert. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Press, Tucson. - Turner, Raymond M., Janice E. Bowers, and Tony L. Burgess. 1995. Sonoran Desert plants, an ecological atlas. University of Arizona Press, Tucson. - USDA. 2008. Plants database. Natural Resources Conservation Service. U.S. Department of Agriculture. http://plants.usda.gov/index.html January The coolest period of the year typically begins in the last week of December and continues through the first week of January. Temperatures typically are near 20˚C during the day and often reach freezing temperatures at night. Winter storms bring precipitation in the form of rain for most of the low elevations and snow at higher elevations. Most vegetation is dormant during this month, but some desert fruits ripen and trees begin to sprout new leaves. Although unusual, occasionally the desert valleys receive a dusting of snow. Species such as Freemont cottonwood (Populus fremontii) may begin to blossom and the fruit of Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) will ripen. Photo credits: (Top right, bottom right, and background) T. Beth Kinsey, the Firefly Forest; (Bottom left) T.R. Van Devender. Desert mistletoe (Phoradendron californicum) cover many trees during this period. They are a great food source for birds that are active such as the curve-billed thrasher (Toxostoma curvirostre, right) and the cactus wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus, below). January Sun January is breeding season for the mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) . Males put much of their energy into competing for mates, often making them more susceptible to attack by cougars (Puma concolor), who are also very active during this month. Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Record Low (1913): 6F Max Monthly Precipitation (1993): 5.58 inches Record High (1971): 90F Photo credits: (Top right) Rhonda Spencer, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum; (Top middle) Warren Lynn, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum; (Top left) Jeanne Broom, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum; (Bottom left) Paul Berquist, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum; (Background) T. Beth Kinsey, the Firefly Forest. February On the cusp of springtime in Arizona, February can provide balmy days and snowy storms with seemingly equal probability. Shifts in bird phenology increase in the Sonoran Desert in February. Cinnamon teal (Anas cyanoptera), Western grebes (Aechmophorus occidentalis) and other early north-bound migrants begin to arrive. Wintering ducks show brighter plumage, preparing for breeding season. Wintering raptors such as ferruginous hawks (Buteo regalis) and red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis, right) remain abundant. Photo credits: (Top right, bottom left) Beth Kinsey, the Firefly Forest; (Background) Jennifer Davison. February Sun Nesting is underway for Costa’s hummingbirds (Calypte costae, male shown above) in February. Some individuals are year-round residents, while others migrate to the Sonoran Desert in late winter or early spring, continuing on to the highlands of Arizona and California when temperatures get too hot. With nesting sites in desert scrub (right), chaparral and tropical deciduous forest, Costa's hummingbirds rely not only on the flowers becoming abundant at this time of year but the insects that frequent those flowers. Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 * 1986, SPOT-1 Record Low (1899): 17F Max Monthly Precipitation (1905): 4.15 inches Record High (1957): 93F Photo credits: (Left) T. Beth Kinsey, the Firefly Forest; (Right) (Right) Willem J. D. van Leeuwen; Leeuwen; (Background) Jennifer Davison. * Satellite launch dates. March A great diversity of plant and animal species live in streamside riparian habitats in the Sonoran Desert. Two tree species dominate these habitats, the Freemont cottonwood (Populus fremontii; above left) and the Goodding willow (Salix gooddingii; above right). Flowering in both these species generally begins in early spring. Photo credits: Steve Amesbury. Spring wildflowers begin to bloom in February and peak in March following wet winters in the Sonoran Desert. The Mexican gold poppy (Escholtzia mexicana, right) may bloom in such profusion that entire hillsides turn orange for several weeks. Many shrubs and trees flower at this time, too, including the invader, salt cedar (Tamarix ramossissima, below). Saltcedar grows in rpiarian areas, where it competes with native riparin trees. Although it is not native to this region, some native species of birds have adopted it for nesting. March Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 27 28 Vernal Equinox 22 23 24 29 30 31 Record Low (1897): 22F 25 26 Max Monthly Precipitation (1905): 3.88 inches Photo credits: (Bottom left and background) Steve Amesbury; (Top right) Beth Kinsey, the Firefly Forest Record High (1988): 98F April The trees of the Sonoran Desert flower later than the wildflowers, including the blue palo verde (Parkinsonia florida; below left) and the foothills palo verde (P. microphylla; below right). Both bloom during April, but the flowers of the blue palo verde appear one to two weeks before those of the foothills palo verde. The staggered blooming times help to prevent hybridization between the two species, both of which are pollinated by native bees and the introduced honeybee. Other trees that flower at this time include the honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa). The mesquite’s leguminous pods will be an important food source for much of the desert’s fauna in the coming months. Meanwhile, most desert cacti are putting on flower buds and may be already blooming. The prickly pear (Opuntia spp.) (center) provides pollen for bees and migrating birds. Photo credits: (bottom left and right) Steve Amesbury; (bottom center) Aaryn Olsson. The orchid-like flowers of the desert willow (Chilopsis linearis; right) are a beautiful pink or purple color. They first begin to appear in April and last until August. Desert willows are most often found in arroyos or near streams. During the autumn and winter, they lose their leaves. The velvet mesquite (Prosopis velutina) is the common species of mesquite in the Sonoran Desert. It generally begins to bloom in April. The flowers are small and form an elongated cluster called a catkin. Groves of mesquite, known as bosques (below), often line arroyos. April Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Record Low (1901): 28F Max Monthly Precipitation (1905): 3.53 inches Record High (1965): 104F Photo credits: (Top right, bottom left, and background) Steve Amesbury; (Top middle, Top left) Mark Dimmitt, ArizonaSonora Desert Museum May Saguaros bloom in April and May, providing a valuable nectar source for the endangered Lesser Long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris curasoae). This bat undertakes long migratory flights, relying on the nectar from columnar cacti such as the saguaro and organ pipe cactus (Stenecereus thurberi). Their dependence on nectar necessitates a tight coupling of their migration with the timing of flowering of the saguaro and other cacti. Therefore, the paths these bats take are often called “nectar corridors.” The white-winged dove (Zenadia asiatica) is another migrant that utilizes the saguaro. Photo credits: (Top left) Merlin D. Tuttle, Bat Conservation International; (Background). May Sun Ironwoods (Olneya tesota) break buds in late April and early May, flowering for 1018 days before shedding their flowers, leaving a pink blanket on the desert floor. Flower production is variable, with large production occurring every 2-5 years. Insect pollinators, including many species of bees, visit the ironwood flowers, whose flowers persist beyond the flowering phase of palo verdes (Cercidium spp.). The anatomy of the pea-shaped flower (upper right) requires the pollinator to bury itself between the petals, ensuring it picks up and deposits pollen during its visit. Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Record Low (1899): 32F Max Monthly Precipitation (1931): 1.34 inches Photo credits: (Top left and background) Mark Dimmit, ArizonaArizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Museum. Record High (1910): 111F June One of the main economic activities in the Sonoran Desert region is cattle ranching, these activities are strongly related to phenological responses from the desert to climatic pulses. Rain will affect the timing and quantity of plant production, directly impacting cattle ranching. Other important activities are tourism and hunting. Hunting is regulated by specific cyclic events intrinsic to all species such as mating or birth of wildlife. Tourism is conducted at different times of the year in the presence of events such as flowering, fruit harvesting and wildlife spotting. Photo credits: (Top right) Jacinto Mayboca Esparza ; (Bottom left) Jose Raul Romo Leon; (Background) Don Knight. Some of the traditional activities related to harvest the native flora happen during June: The traditional saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea) fruit harvest of the Tohono O’odham (Desert People) Nation takes place primarily during this month. June Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Summer Solstice 21 22 23 28 29 30 Record Low (1908): 43F Photo credits: T. Beth Kinsey , the Firefly Forest. 24 25 Max Monthly Precipitation (1938): 2.07 inches 26 27 Record High (1960): 115F July Prior to 2008 the Arizona Monsoon was defined as beginning after the third consecutive day of dew points above 55oF. On average this concurred around July 7 with the monsoon continuing for the next two months. Starting in 2008 the National Weather Service has defined the Arizona monsoon as beginning on June 15 and ending on September 30 Photo credits: USGS, Arizona Water Science Center. Average high temperature: 105 Average low temperature: 80 Warmest ever: 121 Coldest ever: 61 Average precipitation: .8 Vegetation greenness is measured here by the MODIS sensor, on the TERRA satellite. Satellites are routinely used to measure landscape-scale phenology. With the arrive of the monsoon the Sonoran desert landscape changes dramatically from arid and dry scenery to a green humid-warm and vivid ecosystem. From a phenological point of view, many processes occur during this month in an accelerated way, influenced by the excessive sun hours (photoperiod), precipitation, and higher temperatures. The result is an increase in vegetation greenness, meaning more food for animals and humans. July Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 30 31 * 1972, Landsat 1 26 Drought Levels Based on Monthly Streamflow discharge, July 2008 Record Low (1911): 49F Photo credits: USGS, Arizona Water Science Center. 27 28 29 Max Monthly Precipitation (1984): 7.56 inches Record High (1995): 115F * Satellite launch dates. August August is the peak of the monsoon season and month with the greatest rainfall (~3 in) in the Sonoran Desert, which only averages 3-15 inches of rain per year. Monsoon is defined as a seasonal change in the wind direction with strong and brief thunderstorms that bring heavy rain. The summer monsoon in the Sonoran Desert brings moisture from the Gulfs of Mexico and California. The winter and summer rain seasons and mild winters of the Sonoran Desert enable its unique biodiversity. Populat household plants such as Caesalpinia (bottom left) and Tecoma stans bloom throughout the monsoon season. Photo credits: (Top) T. Beth Kinsey, the Firefly Forest; (Bottom) Willem J. D. van Leeuwen; (Background) Jahan Kariyeva. Sonoran desert toads (Bufo alvarius) emerge following the rains to feed and breed in large temporary rain pools. During the rest of the year this species hibernates underground. Sonoran desert toads occur in a number of habitats ranging from creosote bush desert scrub and grasslands to oak-pine woodlands and tropical deciduous forests. These toads consume a large variety of insects throughout their lives. August Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 August is the month of the distinctive buzzing sound in the melodies of the Sonoran Desert. These signature sounds are the mating tunes of the male cicada. Sonoran Desert or Apache cicadas (Diceroprocta apache) are the only insects known to be able to cool themselves by sweating during summer heat. Adult cicadas feed on the watery liquids inside trees and nymphs feed from tree roots underground during their few years of development. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Record Low (1917): 55F Max Monthly Precipitation (1935): 5.61 inches Photo credits: (Top and bottom) T. Beth Kinsey, the Firefly Forest; (Background) Jahan Kariyeva. Record High (1944): 112F September September is a transition month climatologically and biologically. The monsoon rains recede rapidly and drier conditions increase. Temperatures are still hot but may cool towards the end of the month as summer ends and fall begins. Plants and flowers like the turpentine bush (Ericameria laricifolia) are still blooming from the monsoon rains. The prickly pear's fruit (Opuntia spp.) become fully ripe and ready to eat. September is the breeding season for big horn sheep (Ovis canadensis). Photo credits: (Top and Background) T. Beth Kinsey, the Firefly Forest; (Bottom Left) Paul Berquist, Tucson Sonora Desert Museum. September is a time of insect activity due to standing water from the monsoon rains. The risk of West Nile Virus transmission from mosquitoes is high. Brilliant butterflies like the gray hairstreak (Strymon melinus) will decorate and pollinate the landscape. September is the peak time of bird migration. A variety of birds can be seen passing through or settling in for the winter. Rufous hummingbirds (Selasphorus rufus) arrive for the winter while Western Kingbirds (Tyrannus verticalis) gather to migrate south. September Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 29 30 Autumnal Equinox 27 Record Low (1965): 42F 28 Max Monthly Precipitation (1996): 4.41 inches Record High (1950): 112F Photo credits: (Top left) Stephen Minter, Tucson Sonora Desert Museum; (Top right) T. Beth Kinsey, the Firefly Forest; (Bottom left) Paul and Joyce Berquist, Tucson Sonora Desert Museum; (Background) T. Beth Kinsey, the Firefly Forest. October October brings a noticeable change in temperatures and precipitation, as the days shorten and the monsoon season officially ends. Precipitation decreases markedly and temperatures begin to vary more between day and night, both climatic shifts providing signals to plants and animals to begin their next phenophase. Many plants start to turn color in October, due to an interruption in chlorophyll production and subsequent increase in the reds and yellows reflected by other chemicals, e.g., anthocyanins. A leafless coralbean (Erythrina flabelliformis) at right and a summer annual (below) show that autumn colors can be quite dramatic in the Sonoran Desert. Photo credits: (Bottom) T. Beth Kinsey, the Firefly Forest; (Top) Willem J. D. van Leeuwen; (Background) Jahan Kariyeva. As the autumn progresses resident birds briefly sing again, and migrating birds make a south-bound pass through the Sonoran Desert. Wintering hawks and hummingbirds arrive, and summering shore birds and water fowl migrate south. Anna’s hummingbirds (Calypte anna; male shown at left) are back in the Sonoran Desert to breed, starting in late September. Both male and female Anna's Hummingbirds have dark bills, green backs, grayish-green undersides, and lack of prominent eye stripes. Elf owls (Micrathene whitneyi; below), who have spent the summer in the Sonoran Desert eating bugs, prepare to migrate south before their prey is killed off by colder temperatures. October Sun Mon Tue 4 5 11 12 Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 6 7 8 9 10 13 14 15 16 17 * 1978, AVHRR 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Record Low (1897): 29F Max Monthly Precipitation (1983): 5.78 inches Record High (1950): 104F Photo credits: (Top) Will Elder, National Park Service; (Bottom) T. Beth Kinsey, the Firefly Forest; (Background) Jahan Kariyeva. * Satellite launch dates. November Although November is the beginning of the winter precipitation season, the precipitation that typically occurs is inadequate to satiate the parched landscape. Temperatures continue to decline and the Sonoran Desert generally experiences its first freezing temperatures of the season by the last week of the month. The dry conditions combined with winds generated by storms moving across the Great Basin to the north can result in dust storms. Besides particles of soil, the wind can also disperse microscopic biota across the desert, which is an important part of desert ecology. In the Sonoran Desert, the soil dwelling fungi Coccidioides immitis and Coccidioides posadasii are suspected of releasing their spores during this period. If these spores are inhaled by humans they can cause a Deciduous trees that inhabit the canyons of the usually mild respiratory disease called “Valley Fever”. Sonoran Desert lose their leaves after a brief flash of color. In the foothills surrounding the Sonoran Desert grasses that prospered during the monsoonal rains turn a golden brown. Photo credits: (Top) Ted Myers, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum; (Bottom) James Tamerius. Young male mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) are active, rubbing the velvet from their antlers in preparation for sparring in the winter. November Desert-mistletoe (Phoradendron spp.) -- a hemiparasite -- begins to grow on Ironwood, Mesquite, Palo Verde and Acacia trees during November. The phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens) is a wintering bird in the Sonoran Desert. Mistletoe berries are their primary food source, although they eat insects as well. Record Low (1919): 19F Max Monthly Precipitation (1905): 4.61 inches Record High (1924): 94F Photo credits: (Top left ) Mark A. Dimmit, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum; (Top right) Paul Berquist, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum; (Bottom left) T. Beth Kinsey, Firefly Forest December December is the month when the hunting activity begins for species like mule deer, white tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and the desert big horn sheep (Ovis canadensis), in many areas of the Sonoran Desert. Photo credits: (Top right and background) Rogelio Lizarraga; (Top left) Stephen Minter. Winter crops abound in the Sonoran Desert, one of the few places within the U.S. where you can grow crops the whole year due to its mild temperatures and abundant sunshine. Pistachio Agricultural produce unique to this region is sent to the whole country where the weather conditions are not as favorable as in the Sonoran Desert in December. Lettuce Date palm Chili pepper December Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 25 26 28 29 30 31 20 Winter Solstice 27 Drought Levels Based on Monthly Streamflow discharge, December 2007 Record Low (1901): 10F Photo credits: USGS, Arizona Water Science Center. Sat 1 * 1999, TERRA Max Monthly Precipitation (1914): 5.85 inches Record High (1970): 88F * Satellite launch dates. Photo credits: Steve Amesbury.