Phenology
Phenology is the study of periodic plant and animal life cycle events and how these are influenced by seasonal and inter annual variations in climate.In Batang Toru, we monitor the production of the forest in leaves, flowers and fruits. This allow us to know the food availability for the animals in the forest. To do so, we have created 15 plots (5 on each of the 3 vegetation type in our study area). Each plot is 10 x 100m and include approximately 100 trees. We also monitor trees that are outside plots but which are important source of food (fig trees for example).
Each month, the whole Batang Toru team dedicates one week task: imagine counting all the leaves, flowers and fruits of 1500 trees ! This important work has started in January 2008 and is the beginning the beginning of a database that will be available for any researcher coming to Batang Toru. These information will also be used to compare the Batang Toru forest to other forest in Sumatra.
