turtlrs.JPG

The unusually early return of warm weather affects Staten Island's flora and fauna for both better and worse. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)

It's more than just the crocuses and daffodils appearing above ground a month earlier than usual or the snowdrops already in flower. Other signs of spring that shouldn't appear for another four to six weeks have already arrived. Even cold-blooded reptiles that are normally in hibernation until April are out and about in mid-February.

According to most sources, from the official meteorological community to the Farmer's Almanac, this was supposed to be a much more severe winter than it has turned out to be, at least in our part of the country. Of course it's not over yet -- there could well be a blizzard before the winter is finished -- but it's hard to deny the obvious fact that it has been warmer than usual. The past two weeks have been so unseasonably warm that it seems as though spring has come early.

The unusually early return of warm weather affects Staten Island's flora and fauna for both better and worse.

Cold-blooded hibernators are most affected

Hibernating animals, especially reptiles and amphibians, are most likely to be affected. Most years the first of these cold-blooded animals to venture out of its winter accommodations are the spring peepers, a diminutive species of cricket frog. This is normally about March 15. This year, individual frogs have been calling on the warmer days throughout the winter.

Green frogs and the aquatic turtles appear in the ponds in early April, which is about the same time as garter snakes start to be seen in the woodlands. In general it takes temperatures in the 50 degree range to tempt most of these animals to break hibernation and begin basking on logs to warm themselves up.

This year I observed aquatic painted turtles and red ear sliders sunning themselves in substantial numbers while taking a walk in Conference House Park on February 19. This is the earliest I've ever seen them out - at least six weeks before normal. In the past I've run into painted turtles that came out too early, with unhappy results.

If temperatures fall slowly back to their normal seasonal levels, chances are that the frogs and turtles will be able to settle back into the mud and survive the rest of the winter. The problem for these early risers is that a quick cold snap may take them by surprise. A few years ago, I discovered three painted turtles that had come out of hibernation early on the shore of Sharrotts Pond in Clay Pit Pond State Park. These unfortunate animals had been attempting to bask on the shoreline but the cloudy day did not warm them up enough before they were discovered by raccoons, which consider turtles a delicacy. The lethargic turtles did not move fast enough to survive the encounter.

Even without the danger of predators, food sources are a problem for the ravenous hibernators when they make their spring awakening. Though they may have awakened early, the populations of plants and invertebrates that they rely on for sustenance are not necessarily keeping up with the season.

Some plants affected more than others

Plants tend to be a bit more resilient. Skunk cabbage around the local wetlands are among the toughest survivors. With the ability to raise their temperature by as much as 10 degrees Fahrenheit by chemical reactions, these plants can survive a cold snap relatively unharmed. Although crocuses and daffodils don't have this adaptation, most are able to survive a short cold spell without too much damage.

On the other hand, trees that blossom too early may lose their flower buds in a prolonged frost thereby missing the chance to produce seeds this year.

In a recent paper published in "Global Change Biology," James Clark, a professor of environment and biology at Duke University, provides evidence that the period of time between mid-February and mid-March is when warming has the most impact on a tree's development. This is a few weeks before the buds would be expected to open.

His studies indicate that some species are more sensitive to an unusually warm winter than others. Some will advance their budding to accommodate the earlier season, while others are unable to do so.

Insects and Allergies also arrive early

The arrival of warm conditions also speeds up the arrival of allergens that normally come along with warm weather. Insects too respond to warmer weather and become a nuisance earlier than usual when the spring comes along so early.