Saturday, August 3, 2013 Activities today Morning debriefing Ecosystem studies Habitat studies (soil sampling) Vegetation sampling and rangeland inventories Plant identification and School Herbarium Preparation for the study of plant diversity and evolution Afternoon: Lab activities pH & Ion Testing Quantification of samples, plant identification, data analysis and interpretation Reflection time Evening Discussion NGSS core ideas covered (today and on Wednesday) LS2.B LS4.A LS4.D ESS1.A ESS1.B ESS1.C ESS2.D ESS2.E ESS3.D

Plant Kingdom Flowering Plants Non-flowering Plants Classification of Plants

. 3 groups FernsMossesGymnosperms Non - flowering Plants Do NOT produce flowers

A plant can be divided into 3 parts

Examples of Mosses

spores Spore-producing capsule

. No true roots, No vascular tissues (no transport) Characteristics of Mosses. Simple stems & leaves. Have rhizoids for anchorage. Spores from capsules (wind-dispersal). Damp terrestrial land. Simplest plants

underground stem root A leaf (finely divided into small parts)

. roots, feathery leaves & underground stems Characteristics of Ferns vascular tissues. have vascular tissues (transport & support) Dampshady. Damp & shady places Spore-producing organ. Spore-producing organ on the underside of leaves (reproduction)

needle-shaped leaves

Male cones (in clusters) Female cones (scattered)

. roots, woody stems Characteristics of Gymnosperms. needle-shaped leaves. tall evergreen trees. cones with reproductive structures. dry places. vascular tissues (transport). naked seeds in female cones

. 2 groups MonocotyledonsDicotyledons Flowering Plants. roots, stems, leaves. vascular tissues (transport). flowers, fruits (contain seeds)

Monocotyledons Parallel veins

. one seed-leaf Characteristics of Monocotyledons. leaves have parallel veins. herbaceous plants. e.g. grass, maize

Dicotyledons Veins in network

. two seed-leaves Characteristics of Dicotyledons. leaves have veins in network. e.g. trees, sunflower, rose

Plant Classification Non-flowering Plants Flowering Spore- bearing Naked seeds No roots with roots MossesFerns Gymnosperms 1 seed- leaf 2 seed- leaves MonocotsDicots

Plant Collections and Herbarium Preparation Plant Collections are samples of plants that can be: 1. Dried one mounted on paper (herbarium specimens) 2. Liquid preserved 3. Kept alive, grown in greenhouse or garden

Why to collect plant? 4 Resource material for plant taxonomic studies (they catalogue the plants). 4 Reference collection for named taxa ( = voucher specimen) –Type specimen in formal naming –Reference for the identity of a taxon -in field studies, e.g., floristic surveys, ecological or any plant related results 4 Provide information about the plant in a native habitat 4 Study of global change (floristics/climate)

How does one: 1) Obtain a specific plant(s) for a research study - Use label information from herbarium specimens to find localities - Use maps to find likely habitats 2) Do a complete inventory of plants for a field survey or floristic study? - Collect and identify every plant in a region during different seasons and different years. - Note: Permission / permits needed!

Should you collect? What to collect? Generally DON’T collect “listed” taxa: rare, endangered, or threatened Must know ahead of time which these are! When you collect, use “1 to 20” rule: – For every herb you collect, make sure there are at least 20 in the population. – For every branch of a shrub or tree, make sure there are at least 20 more.

How to collect? Herbs: Must dig up at least one entire plant to show root or rootstock (e.g., corm, bulb, rhizome) Shrubs, trees, vines: One branch sufficient. Collect a representative specimen that shows vegetative and reproductive parts (in flower, fruit, cone, with sporangia, etc.)

How to collect? Press plants: Portable field press used in field Transfer to standard herbarium press 1) Fold to fit ca. 11.5” x 16.5”; fill up area 2) Cut to fit & to prevent too much overlap; slice rootstocks; slice flowers, fruits to show morph. 3) At least one leaf up, one down 4) Collect extra material, if possible. 5) Divide into 2 or more sheets, if necessary. 6) Succulents: cut out tissue, soak in alcohol

Cardboards: ca. 12” x 18” Newspaper, ca. 11.5” x 16.5” Tighten straps Place in plant drier, 2-3 days Remove and check if dry (if it feels cool, not dry) Plant Press

Collection Data

Importance of recording color, even of pollen grains!

Liquid-Preserved Collections Anatomy, embryology, palynology, etc.: FAA (Formalin - Acetic Acid - Alcohol (ethanol) Cytology (chromosome numbers): Carnoy’s solution (100% ethanol : glacial acetic acid) Ultrastructure: Gluteraldehyde, osmium tetroxide, formalin

Living Collections Grow in greenhouse or botanic garden Valuable for long-term studies Collections for Molecular Studies 4 DNA: dried in silica gel 4 Allozymes, RNA: fresh material

Research projects 4 Pollinator visitation rates on an invasive plant and native plant 4 Abundance of a particular medicinal plant species 4 Abundance of listed taxa in your area 4 Abundance of legume taxa in the natural habitats 4 Monitoring of exotic invasive plants 4 Tracking global change using herbarium specimens