Practical experience with morphology-based species identification is in high demand in both basic and applied biological research. This field course explores the vascular plant flora of central Sweden. Around 400 species will be shown in the field and their habitat and ecology will be discussed. You will acquire species identification, field collection and habitat survey skills, as well as learn how to prepare specimens for preservation in museum collections. Each participant will also perform an inventory project. The applications of taxonomic knowledge will be discussed as well as how species categories in conservation biology (regionally or nationally protected species, species of special concern, red-listed species, signal species, typical species, keystone-species) and invasive species can be used in teaching.
The course is composed of two parts:
· In a first preparatory part, the students should read assigned literature (for those who read Swedish, see below), as well as learn to recognize the following families prior arriving Tovetorp (attend introductory lecture presentation or choose any book including information on how to recognize flowering plant families): Orchidaceae, Cyperaceae, Poaceae, Ranunculaceae, Fabaceae, Rosaceae, Brassicaceae, Polygonaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Ericaceae, Boraginaceae, Lamiaceae, Asteraceae and Apiaceae. There will be a Zoom-lecture on how to distinguish these families, preliminary Wednesday 2 June 13.00-15.00. Zoom link will be sent to all accepted to the course.
· In the second part of the course at the field station Tovetorp (58°56'50''N, 17°08'56''E, see e.g. Google Earth) in Södermanland 40 km SW of Södertälje, there will be excursions during day-time and teacher-led lectures combined with student presentations and hands-on exercises during evenings. The participants will also perform an inventory. Tovetorp is strategically located with species-rich habitats as seashores, rich fens, calcareous rocks, broadleaved deciduous forests and coniferous forests as well as bogs and lakes nearby.
The
schedule of the course and
important practical information are available
here.
The course is taught and organized by: Dr Göran Thor, SLU, Uppsala, goran.thor@slu.se tel. 018-672419 or 073-6297465
Financial aid: Participation of the Norwegian-affiliated students/researchers will be covered by ForBio. Other applicants will need to secure their own funding to cover travel to Tovetorp field station, as well as accommodation and subsistence for the course duration. There are no course fees.
Registration and selection process: ForBio -member please fill in the online application here. All other participants please contact the course organizer Göran Thor for signing up.
The course is the equivalent of 3 ECTS points.
Find out about how to become a ForBio member here.
The application deadline is April 28, 2021.
Contact Göran Thor, SLU, Uppsala, goran.thor@slu.se for more information.
