2021 Q1 Update: A new web application & sign-up for 2021 now active
Dear TASpeR Science Community,
I am writing to provide some important and exciting updates about the TASpeR project! We’ve updated our website with new features, have some preliminary findings to share, and set ambitious goals for our 2021 sampling. We have some exciting plans to share in the upcoming months and I thank you so much for participating in this community scientist project–it truly would not be possible without your support!
Here’s a more detailed update:
Website
In addition to email updates, we will now be posting project updates as blog posts on our website. The blog format provides a convenient way for members of our community to see summaries of past project updates. We will also be sharing content related to community science, red maple, species variation, and tree resource use regularly on our newsfeed and twitter account (@tasper_project).
Map of preliminary findings
I am extremely excited to announce that our website update also includes an interactive map of the preliminary findings from the TASpeR project so far. The map currently provides the opportunity for you to look at green and fallen leaf %N, along with estimates of nutrient resorption (the process by which nutrients are conserved by plants during senescence). I encourage you to have a look at the interactive map I made, which can be viewed on our website: https://sites.bu.edu/tasper. I aim to update this map regularly with new features and data on a regular basis.
Setting goals for 2021 sampling
2021 is the third year for the TASpeR project and we’ve set the ambitious goal of 250 participants, which is more than double the number of participants from the last two years combined. From 2019-2020, we had about 115 total participants which so far has resulted in a good number of samples and an exciting data set. We hope to expand participation in the project up to at least 250 participants this year to make sure our findings from the first two years are robust. Additionally, 2021 is likely the last year we will focus on red maple leaf nutrient content. In future years our focus is likely to shift in focus and scope, but will still emphasize how individual species vary through their geographic distribution. Will you help us reach our goal of 250 participants in 2021? If so, please let us know via this form and we will reach out with sampling protocols and further details: click here for sign-up form
Take care & thanks for all you do,
Steve Gougherty