[SOS-PCA] SOS Call Notes: July 7, 2015

[Haidet, Margaret (Megan)]

SOS Collectors’ Call

July 7, 2015

There were 35 participants on the call.

*Bend Update* – They are still working on 2014 seed cleaning. There are
about 200 lots remaining.

*Pest strips* – All collection should be treated with no pest strips. It is
unnecessary to send the pest strips with the seed to Bend.

*Drying collections* – Be sure that seed collections are dry prior to
shipping to Bend or other seed cleaning facility. It can be as simple as
putting your hand down in the bag to make sure seed is dry and crispy. If
not, ventilate seed in a cool dry place. Keep seed bag open while drying;
lay seed out on cookie sheet or tray; use fan for air circulation or single
room dehumidifier.

*SOS Data Collection – *The SOS Datasheet has been updated, most recently
on July 1, 2015. Please use this data sheet from this point forward.

*Location details –* The locality of the collection site, should provide
clear direction from some recognizable point to the collection site. Be
detailed enough that someone can retrace the location details and find the
population. Example: Take Rt. 53 3 mi. SE of Valley View, turn right on
Pleasant Point, drive for 3.2 miles, population on right side of road 100
ft. from quarry entrance.

*Associated species - *List the scientific name for the 5-10 dominant
plants found coexisting with the collected species. These can include
native as well as non-native species. Example: Artemisia tridentata,
Gutierrezia sarothrae, Bromus tectorum, Carex sp. and Eriogonum umbellatum.

*Field Notes to assist in identification of pressed specimen –* This field
should include observed field notes only. There is no need to include a
description from a flora or Wikipedia. If there are no out of the ordinary
notes, no flowers (to describe color), etc. you may leave this field blank.
Example: flowers white, bracts ovate.

*Soil Texture/Color –* Though the collection of soils information seems
insignificant to some, it is especially important to think about soils when
we are putting the collections back on the ground, example loess deposits.
The NRCS Wed Soil Survey is a great resource and has soil maps and data
available online for more than 95% of US counties.
http://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/HomePage.htm

*Creating a reference seed collection – *The idea of a reference seed
collection was raised by the SOS Curator. Megan asked if teams had this
type of resource on site – few did; MARSB uses magnifying boxes and stores
them alphabetically – and if it would be useful to have this kind of
reference. Many teams liked the idea of a physical reference collection
because it could be useful to teach new seed collectors and there tends to
be a lot of turnover in summer interns. Others suggested that it would be
better to have high quality magnified photos of seed, in color with a scale
bar on the SOS website.

Existing seed photo resources include: http://seedsofsuccess.smugmug.com/,
http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/, http://www.hazmac.biz/rsabghome.html, and
http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/seedid/all.asp?sort=scientific.

*Don’t forget to send data sheets to the National Coordinating Office
(mahaidet at blm.gov <mahaidet at blm.gov>) as they are collected* so they can be
entered into the national database throughout the season, rather than all
at once at the end of the season. You may send these as scanned copies of
legible hand written data sheets (.pdf), as word processes documents (.doc)
or through GoogleDrive within the BLM network.

*Reminder: Send in your favorite apps and/or web resources* – Please let me
know about your go-to websites and smartphone applications that assist with
SOS data collection. These could help with soils, geology, plant community
type or something else. These will be compiled and added to the SOS webpage.

*SOS Data Accessibility -* If you would like an excel export of the data
collected by your team, in a specific geographic area, or of a species
please contact mahaidet at blm.gov for an export. I am happy to run exports
for anyone involved in Seeds of Success or researchers interested in using
SOS material.

Next Call - Tuesday, August 4, 2015
Megan Haidet
Seeds of Success
National Collection Curator
Seeds of Success
202-912-7233

www.blm.gov/sos
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