Abstract
The phenology of berry-producing plants, particularly their harvest season, is of human interest and also reflects the ecosystem’s response to the changing environment. We investigated the seasonal dynamics of human interest in berries growing in boreal, subarctic and Arctic ecosystems, mainly in Russia, based on internet search data via Google Trends. There is a typical and culture-specific pattern of seasonal variations in search volume concerning berries across Russia, Finland, and Canada. Generally, the seasonal peak of search corresponds to the common berry harvest season across these countries. We discussed the potential and limitation for detecting ecological factors from the internet search data, in which physical phenomena and socio-cultural aspects are fundamentally superimposed, and its applicability to phenological studies.
Highlights
Plant phenology, or seasonality, can affect human behavior in various ways, reflecting human interaction with specific plants (Platton and Henfrey, 2009; Spark et al, 2012)
This study aimed to explore the potential of using internet search data to understand the temporal dynamics of berry plants, which are of human interest as seasonal delicacies, as part of recreation activities, and sometimes for subsistence
GT1 provides a time series of relative search volume (RSV), which indicates a ratio of the number of queries—including examined keywords—to the total number of queries sent from a specific location
Summary
Seasonality, can affect human behavior in various ways, reflecting human interaction with specific plants (Platton and Henfrey, 2009; Spark et al, 2012). Wild berries growing in the boreal, subarctic and Arctic ecosystems benefit both humans and wildlife (e.g., Nestby et al, 2019). They are part of essential ecosystem services and provide material resources such as nonwood forest products (e.g., Turtiainen and Nuutinen, 2012; Sorrenti, 2017) and social–cultural services of recreation, culture, and livelihoods when harvested by rural and urban residents (Kangas and Markkanen, 2001; Stryamets et al, 2015). Mapping and monitoring berry plants, and especially their fruiting phenology, are essential to understand and predict the human–nature interaction in this region
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
