[PCA] Need info on std. template to profile life cycles of angiosperms -- reply to Peter Rauch's inquiry
bmacbryde at netscape.net
bmacbryde at netscape.net
Fri Dec 26 12:30:55 CST 2008
Thanks for the inquiry and comments.
First the easier clarification: We've no plans to have a relational
database for this, just static information. However, databases can help
to narrow down categories to a functional minimum, which is what we'd
like to start with in a standard agrobiology template. So, maybe
someone has done the general profile work for a plant database, and a
manual would give the summary.
Second, the basic use envisioned is just internal guidance, so that an
array of people with different backgrounds can quickly and
simplistically understand the basic dynamics of the species, which are
often major crops such as corn, rice, cotton, rapeseed/canola, onion,
etc., but include a range of other species, e.g. safflower, guayule,
plum, and poplar. Reproductive concerns relate to placement of crop
varieties (experimental or breeding strains) so they don't
cross-pollinate with other varieties, don't come up as volunteers in
subsequent crops, and whether they could be dispersed beyond the
agricultural area.
The idea is not to go far into agroecological aspects, but recognize
potentials. When fine-tuning refinements are needed for a particular
species or planting situation, the idea is that they would just be
added beyond the template. Also, if some new major fact became know,
e.g., long seed dormancy in a crop thought to not have it, the crop
profile would be changed, but by some internal staff review process, so
that each staff person wouldn't be morphing the crop profile into their
own version.
Thanks.
Bruce MacBryde
USDA/APHIS
Riverdale, MD
E-mail: bmacbryde at netscape.net
-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Rauch <peterar at berkeley.edu>
To: native-plants at lists.plantconservation.org
Sent: Tue, 23 Dec 2008 11:46 am
Subject: Re: [PCA] Need info on std. template to profile life cycles of
angiosperms, emphasis on reproductive dynamics
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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