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

Peter Rauch peterar at berkeley.edu
Tue Dec 23 10:46:27 CST 2008


Just two brief comments...

You say:
"The impetus behind this idea is to organize and focus internal information better, and limit the categories to those we really need."
and,
"just to capture the main categories to profile the potential dynamics of such species."
and in the subject line,
"to profile life cycles of angiosperms, emphasis on reproductive dynamics".

But, organize and focus better for what purposes ?   What is it that you really need the data for ?  The "potential dynamics" of a (mainly common crop plants and several plantation trees) species includes a world of possibilities --how is this information intended to be used ?

That will help (you and others) determine what might constitute a "relatively standard set of parameters to indicate basic life cycles of flowering plants in the United States, focusing mainly on common crop plants and several plantation trees". 

"...envision preparing brief (several page) biological documents (profiles) on individual species..."

Who is expected to read (be served by) these documents, and for what purpose(s) ?  


Second, you refer a couple of time to "relational database".  I suggest that _how_ the information is stored and accessed is a far second (but then very important) consideration, after the full details are understood of "what purposes" and "what data will serve those purposes."

Peter

At 09:48 08/12/22, you wrote:

>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





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