Year: 2026
Type: data-paper
Abstract: We present a unique dataset of historical tropical tree phenology observations at two sites from different bioclimatic regions across the Congo Basin. We cover both the Atlantic Mayombe forest and the tropical forest in the central Congo Basin. To our knowledge this is the complete extant historical (1937-1957) phenology data across the Congo basin. The data contains ~10 million observations of 876 species, across 6339 individuals, and phenology metrics including leaf, flowering, and fruiting phenology. The data were recovered through expert transcription and validated community science based crowdsourcing. These data may provide a reference baseline and key information on how tree species are responding to a changing climate.
Source: Scientific Data
Authors: Koen Hufkens, Elizabeth Kearsley, Piet Stoffelen, Steven B. Janssens, Camille Couralet, Margaret Kosmala, Emmanuel Kasongo Yakusu, Donatien Musepena, Dieu-Merci Assumani, Nestor K. Luambua, Benjamin Toirambe, Jean-Remy Makana, Corneille Ewango, Tom De Mil, Marijn Bauters, Wannes Hubau, Elasi Ramanzani Kitima, José Mbifo Ndiapo, Adelard Lonema Chuda, Andrew D. Richardson, Lisa Wingate, Bhély Angoboy Ilondea, Hans Beeckman, Jan Van den Bulcke, Pascal Boeckx, Hans Verbeeck
Institutions: BlueGreen Labs (bv) (Belgium), Meise Botanic Garden, KU Leuven, Université de Montpellier, Harvard University, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Ghent University, Université de Kisangani, University of Liège, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Northern Arizona University, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, Interaction Sol Plante Atmosphère
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Life on land
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,490
Awards: Congo basin eco-climatological data recovery and valorisation (COBECORE), Collaborative Research: Continental-Scale Monitoring, Modeling and Forecasting of Phenological Responses to Climate Change, Congo basin integrated monitoring for forest carbon mitigation and biodiversity (COBIMFO)., COBECORE-2: Upgrading of archived eco-climatic data from the Kong basin
OpenAlex ID: W7118507539