Introduction to Willow Identification

• Start Date: July 09, 2018
• End Date: July 10, 2018
• Time: Day 1: 9am-5pm, Day 2: 9am-12pm
• City: Revelstoke BC
• Venue: Okanagan College and field sites in and around Revelstoke
• Instructor: Jamie Fenneman, R.P.Bio, PhD (cand.)

IMAGES Jamie Fenneman

Course Description

Willows (Salix) are among the most widespread, diverse, and ecologically important vascular plants in British Columbia, yet are well known as one of the most difficult groups of plants to identify accurately to species. This course aims to provide students with a sufficient background in the genus to help untangle some of these complexities and become familiar with the identification process in the group. The course will include an in-class component, which will discuss the diversity, ecology, and identification of willow species, as well as provide opportunities for students to interact with fresh and dried specimen material. In addition, field trips will take students into the field to see a variety of willow species in different environments and practice field identification using taxonomic keys and other materials.

 

This course has been approved by the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) as a for-credit course! Students will earn 10 continuing education credits with SER’s Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner (CERP) program.

 

Our Instructor

Jamie Fenneman, RPBio, PhD (cand.)

Mr. Fenneman has been studying the flora of British Columbia for more than 20 years, and has collected and documented plants throughout most of the province over the course of this period. He has worked as an environmental consultant since 2005, where he focuses primarily on vegetation community studies, rare plant surveys, and botanical inventories. He is currently in the process of completing a Ph.D. in Botany at the University of British Columbia, where he is studying the taxonomy and systematics of the sunflower family (Asteraceae) in British Columbia. He has also been a primary laboratory instructor in the field of plant taxonomy at UBC since 2013, and has instructed hundreds of students in the fields of plant identification and classification.

 

Who should attend?

This course is geared towards students, consulting biologists, government biologists, industry biologists, biological field technicians, and interested members of the public.

Preparation and what to bring

Essential:

• Refillable water bottle to take into the field; extra snacks for the field
• Field gear for rain or sun
• Clipboard

Bring if you can:

• Hand lens
• Field notebook
• Any field guides you feel will be helpful
• Vehicle: we’ll car-pool for this course. Please indicate in your registration form if you have space to take passengers in your vehicle.

What is Included in the Course?

• The following textbook will be included with the course fee: Brayshaw. 1996. Catkin-bearing plants of British Columbia.
• Hand lenses and dissecting microscopes
• Fresh and dried plant material for examination with the microscopes
• Students will provide their own transportation but will likely be able to car-pool with others during the field sessions.
• Food: There will be an opportunity to order bagged lunches and snacks. Refreshments will be provided for the classroom portion only of this course.

 

Thank you to our host Okanagan College