[PCA] Need info on std. template to profile life cycles of angiosperms, emphasis on reproductive dynamics

[bmacbryde at netscape.net]

Where I work (USDA/APHIS), we are in early stages of planning to 
prepare and/or fine-tune and adopt a relatively standard set of 
parameters (which we are calling a template) to indicate basic life 
cycles of flowering plants in the United States, focusing mainly on 
common crop plants and several plantation trees. The impetus behind 
this idea is to organize and focus internal information better, and 
limit the categories to those we really need. This would not be for a 
relational database. We then envision preparing brief (several page) 
biological documents (profiles) on individual species, which would 
adhere tightly to the standard template. The results for a species 
would be something like the Cliffs Notes, but much shorter.

I would appreciate information on existing standard formats or 
templates of this general type. For example, parameters of interest to 
put in the standard template include: native or introduced; annual, 
biennial, herbaceous or woody perennial; modes of pollination (wind, 
insects, both, percentages, characteristics); outcrossing, selfing, 
both (and rough percentages); isolation distances to maintain genetic 
separation between cultivated strains (cultivars); vegetative 
propagation (kinds, extent); modes of dispersal (and characteristics); 
seed dormancy (practical characteristics, longevity); potential 
free-living strains (weedy strains or relatives, other taxa); etc. 
Details on morphology are not a focus.

Occasionally others have made thorough efforts to capture life history 
variation in flowering plants, for example in standardizing categories 
for a relational database. I'd much appreciate suggestions on major 
comprehensive papers or similar efforts, whether they relate to wild 
plants (native or naturalized), horticultural plants, silvicultural 
plants, or agricultural plants. The idea is not to elaborate on the 
infinite variation, but just to capture the main categories to profile 
the potential dynamics of such species.

Thanks, Bruce MacBryde, Ph.D.
USDA/APHIS
Riverdale, MD

E-mail: bmacbryde at netscape.net