collecting

[Mary Barkworth]

How about combining the two approaches? Ask the Sierra Club to point out
that many of the taxa are often difficult to distinguish and, if it is true,
that there simple manual only includes the most frequently encountered
species.  THEREFORE - specimens should be prepared and sent for verification
- but offer (and this is an additional time commitment) to provide feedback
- identification correct or id not correct, correct id is .. and, depending
on time and resources (ask Sierra Club for funding?) add comment on the
distinguishing features of the correct taxon.  I can see acquiring a large
database of unreliable and potentially misleading information with the
approach being taken.

-----Original Message-----
From: Robin W. Scribailo [mailto:rscrib at PURDUENC.EDU]
Sent: Friday, November 19, 1999 8:48 AM
To: TAXACOM at USOBI.ORG
Subject: collecting


Dear taxacomers,

        I have an issue regarding collecting that I would be interested in
imput
on. The Sierra Club in Indiana is currently putting together a simple
manual for the layperson to identify wetland plants. The thought is, as I
am sure it is in many states, is to involve the public in monitoring
wetlands and contributing information about invasives, illegal activities
and so on. I have made the case with a number of agencies that we would be
better off having these people collect specimens and send them to myself or
botanists at DNR or other taxonomists for proper identification rather than
having many things misidentified. From my point of view, given the
inadequacy of funding and available personnel to survey all wetlands (and
lakes), we are missing the opportunity of gaining much valuable
information. I would argue that it is far easier to teach the public how to
collect a decent specimen and preserve it and under what circumstances (ie
carefully noting the abundance of the species) then it is to have them
trying to identify grasses and sedges. Obviously there are concerns that
people cannot collect in nature preserves and so on but I still feel more
good would be done this way.

        At the heart of this issue is the frustrating realization that there
is
very little funding for survey work although there is millions of dollars
for restoration of lakes and rivers. How does one make an informed decision
about restoration if there is no information on the species present?

Robin
Dr. Robin Scribailo
Associate Professor of Biology
Biological Sciences and Chemistry Section
Purdue University North Central
1401 S. US 421, Westville
IN 46391-9528
(219) 785-5255