An Introduction to Plant Taxonomy (Identification)

An Introduction to Plant Taxonomy (Identification)

This workshop will help unravel the mysteries of plant taxonomy and identification to those interested in starting out on the path to becoming a botanist or ecologist.  The session will be introductory in nature and is aimed at those with some background training or simply those interested in learning how to identify local plants.  The office component will run until around 11 am and will include:

• Introduction to Plant Taxonomy; Dichotomous Keys; Plant Physiology; Plant Terminology; and
• Common Families and Genera 

The afternoon session will occur at the Gray Nuns White Spruce Park in St. Albert.  The park is an example of a remnant white spruce climax forest on a floodplain site near the Sturgeon River.  Participants will receive hands on training in how to identify common families and genera.  Spring is early this year and the park should be in good form.

Please ensure you bring field guides/flora and appropriate field gear including: hand lens, camera, mosquito repellant, bagged lunch, and a water bottle.

Date:                   May 30, 2015 8:00 am to 4:00 pm

Location:          NAIT and Gray Nuns White Spruce Park in St. Albert

Maximum         20 registrants (must have a minimum of 6 to proceed)

CCP:                This course qualifies ASPB members to earn 7.5 Professional Development Hours towards their Continuing Competency   
                           Requirement

For inquiries about the Workshop, contact Chris Clement

Presenter Biographies 

Chris Clements has 45 years of environmental experience in Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia, participating in the project management, scientific inventory, data analysis, report writing, technical review, application of scientific standards, and quality control for numerous large-scale projects.  He is an experienced vegetation ecologist with a focus on the inventory and mapping of terrestrial ecosystems.  For over 27 years he worked independently to inventory, map and describe the natural ecosystems of British Columbia.  For the last 6 years he has worked throughout Alberta and Saskatchewan to expand his knowledge base of boreal and prairie plant species and ecosystems. 

Dave Critchley, the Associate Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences at NAIT, has more than 20 years of experience as a botanist, ecologist, and field scientist in Alberta.  He began his career working in northern Alberta collecting biophysical data, then joined Parks Canada involved in various projects and shifted to consulting to hone his plant identification skills before finding his career as an instructor at NAIT. He is an avid outdoorsman and is always keen to pass on his knowledge about natural ecosystems of Alberta.  His specialized passions include caving (to look for rare species, including bats) and bryophyte ID.

The ASPB is not responsible for the content of this presentation; the information and views expressed by the presenter(s) are their own.