Instructor: Dr. Alexander Krings
E-mail address: Alexander_Krings@ncsu.edu
Workshop description:
This is a Criteria III, content-based workshop designed for continuing professional development of environmental educators in the subject area of rare plants of North Carolina.
Number of contact hours: 4
Learning outcomes: By the end of the course, students will be able to:
(1) demonstrate a general understanding of the species richness of the southeastern flora and identify patterns of endemism, and major biogeographic breaks;
(2) demonstrate a general understanding of the number of rare plants in North Carolina and their distribution;
(3) describe the various federal and state agencies involved in protecting rare plants, and identify pertinent legislation;
(4) explain the role of herbaria and taxonomy in plant conservation;
(5) use emerging tools to produce a dynamic checklist of plant species;
(6) accurately identify selected federally listed plant species in North Carolina;
(7) discuss habitat, reproductive phenology, and distribution of selected federally listed plant species in North Carolina;
(8) identify congeners and species morphologically similar to selected federally listed taxa and distinguish them by morphological characters, habitat, and/or phenological activity.
Web and mobile apps:
Krings, A., S. Goyette, D. Suiter, and M. Samuels. 2012–present. Rare plants of North Carolina: Federally listed species and their congeners. Version 1.0. North Carolina State University, Raleigh. [http://herbarium.ncsu.edu/rare/]
Web-accessible from essentially all desktop or mobile browsers on PC or Mac devices.
Samuels, M. and A. Krings. 2012–present. Pitcher perfect! Identifying pitcher plants in North Carolina. Version 1.0. North Carolina State University, Raleigh. [http://herbarium.ncsu.edu/sarracenia/]
Web-accessible from essentially all desktop or mobile browsers on PC or Mac devices.
Tentative sequence of topics:
9:00-9:10: Welcome; Introduction and overview of workshop.
9:10-9:55, Part 1: Introduction to the flora of the southeastern United States and the Carolinas (incl. comparative floristics, patterns of endemism at regional and local scales, plant communities).
9:55-10:05: Short break.
10:05-11:00, Part 2: What is a species?; The importance of taxonomy and herbaria to plant conservation; Agencies involved in rare plant protection; Rankings.
11:00-11:30: Working lunch.
11:15-11:45: Overview of federally listed species in North Carolina; Optimum survey windows.
11:45-12:15: Sarracenia (Exercises; Key).
12:15-12:50: Hexastylis (Exercises; Key).
12:50-1:00: Summary; Evaluation.