The changing environment – like snow here in Lawrence last weekend – has scientists convinced they need more information to determine how environmental changes are affecting plants and wildlife, and they need the public’s help.

Kansas University’s Monarch Watch is appealing to anyone, especially those who have the group’s monarch waystations, to log a series of “environmental firsts” this year in order to more accurately determine how short-term environmental factors may be affecting butterflies, bees and other critters.

“We hope we get a lot of people participating because we are dealing with a changing planet,” said Chip Taylor, Monarch Watch director.

By visiting the Web site of the National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org, gardeners, naturalists and others can record the first date they see certain flowers, or seed pods for milkweeds and other plants. Taylor said this mass data collection has never been tried before.

“I think monarch butterflies are a good hook to get people involved,” Taylor said. “We have a lot of people in Lawrence who could help do this.”

Taylor said people who choose to participate in the project will be able to learn about biology and also gain a better understanding of what it is growing in their gardens.

After several years of this data collection, Taylor said, a group of his colleagues would like to map the normal time for plant and animal appearances and then document the variance from year to year.

This year, for instance, the number of squirrels and butterflies in Lawrence have been reduced by the April freeze last year, Taylor said. With data, the scientists would be able to predict and diagnose why butterflies and bees are not appearing.