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

[Wendi at Three Ravens Ranch]

Bruce,

How would your project relate to the NRCS -NPDC PLANTS database?

The current plant characteristics displayed in the PLANTS database do
include some of the attributes you mention; native/introduced, vegetative
propagation, growth habit, etc.

Being an end user, I don't know exactly how information is gathered for the
database.

Some of the site is currently closed for updates. However, recently a "data
source and documentation link" has been added and there is a link to
recommend distribution updates.

We use the PLANTS database and NRCS plant technical notes frequently for
resource conservation projects and would appreciate any of the additional
information you mention for common agricultural/ resource conservation
species. Hopefully, the information could be added to an accessible database
like PLANTS database.

Please keep us updated on your project.

Thank you,

Wendi Lutz
3 Ravens Ranch
www.3ravensranch.com




----- Original Message ----- 
From: <bmacbryde at netscape.net>
To: <native-plants at lists.plantconservation.org>
Cc: <bruce.macbryde at aphis.usda.gov>
Sent: Monday, December 22, 2008 9:48 AM
Subject: [PCA] Need info on std. template to profile life cycles of
angiosperms, emphasis on reproductive dynamics


>
> 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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