http://hdl.handle.net/1957/13790 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 04:12:10 GMT 2013-06-20T04:12:10Z http://hdl.handle.net/1957/13794 Applying GIS analysis to herbarium georeferencing Buonopane, Michelle In March 2005 the Oregon State University Herbarium launched its new, free online Oregon Vascular Plant Atlas for public use. This Atlas allows users to access location information from over 385,000 vascular plant specimen and observation records in the state of Oregon. The potential applications of such spatial information are almost limitless; users can examine the spatial relationships between plants and a variety of environmental variables within plant communities (soils, precipitation, elevation etc.). The maintenance and accuracy of this database is therefore critically important in order to provide the highest quality information to Atlas users. Several projects were identified to increase the accuracy and precision of the Plant Atlas spatial data including: (1) correction of points with mismatched township/range and county information, (2) comparison of Oregon State University (OSU) Herbarium and Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center (ORNHIC) georeferencing results, (3) creation of quarter section and quarter-quarter section location names, and (4) analysis of elevation information using digital elevation models. These projects were completed using geographic information system (GIS) software, as well as Microsoft Access data management software. New location names, or LocNames, were created for township/ranges bisected by county lines, increasing the accuracy of the referenced location. LocNames were also created for specimens with quarter section and quarter-quarter section information. These combined projects resulted in the creation of 1,876,587 new location names. Analysis of the ORNHIC and OSU Herbarium georeferencing results showed the majority of points were similarly georeferenced, however, one-third had some quality issue. Finally, the quality of the elevation information stored in the Vascular Plant Atlas database was shown to include potential data entry conflicts between meters and feet, as well as potential georeferencing problems. The results of these projects will help increase the accuracy of georeferenced specimen locations, as well as provide important information to help herbarium staff identify areas of needed quality control. Mon, 01 Aug 2005 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/1957/13794 2005-08-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/1957/13793 Conservation and land management : Seeds of Success, New Mexico Weller, Stacey A. The Seeds of Success (SOS) is a wildland seed collection program in support of the interagency Native Plant Materials Development Program (NPMP) and in partnership with the global conservation initiative, the Millennium Seed Bank Project of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. SOS collections follow a set protocol with consideration for the optimal genetic diversity of the sample, the future utility of the species, and the sustainability of the current population. These high-quality, well documented seed collections serve a dual purpose; they help land managers in meeting the many restoration, rehabilitation, and revegetation needs of degraded lands across the country and they also serve as ex situ conservation material in national and international seed banks for future research and development and the security of the world’s plant diversity at a time of mass extinction. My five-month internship with the Bureau of Land Management in Las Cruces, New Mexico, initiated the SOS program for the state and resulted in at least thirty-two collections for long-term banking, local restoration, and research and development by the USDA Agricultural Research Service. The future of the NPMP depends on continued support by land managers in addition to partnerships with the commercial seed industry for overcoming the current challenges and economic liabilities of broad scale native plant materials production. Wed, 06 Dec 2006 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/1957/13793 2006-12-06T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/1957/13792 Willamette Valley prairie restoration : the Native Seed Network and Sidalcea Lambert, Joshua K. My internship was conducted with the Native Seed Network program within the Institute for Applied Ecology, a non-profit organization located in Corvallis, whose focus is education, applied research and active restoration and of native ecosystems. My internship goals were to increase my experience in applied restoration ecology and conservation biology with the emphasis on native plant communities in particular the endangered prairie communities of the Willamette Valley. These goals were met through my tenure with the Native Seed Network’s native seed collection and increase program during the 2007 field season. This work provided me strong experience with a process necessary for genetically conservative restoration and provided the NSN with a willing intern to complete their goals for 2007. Additional work I accomplished included a morphometric analysis of the native Willamette Valley prairie forb Sidalcea campestris which served as one constituent towards resolving the general ambiguity of this focal species for prairie restoration. Included in this analysis is a presentation and my interpretation of an initial molecular phylogenetic analysis on a selection of S. campestris accessions by Liston and deFeniks (unpublished) that may aid in the future resolution of S. campestris and other congeners in the Willamette Valley. The purpose of the morphological research was not mastery of population genetics or statistics but an exercise in concentration and achievement towards a more integrated and advanced application of taxonomic work oriented towards preserving biological diversity. This entire report completes the written requirement for the Professional Science Masters degree in Applied Systematic through the Botany and Plant Pathology Department at Oregon State University. Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/1957/13792 2008-07-23T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/1957/13791 Conservation and community development in Nepal : case study of a non-government organization Cannon, Joseph R. The internship I performed was with Rural Community Development Program (RCDP), a domestic non-governmental organization in the country of Nepal. This organization focuses on community development goals in rural communities, utilizing the efforts of volunteers within the context of environmental conservation ideals. I primarily worked with the associated community plant nursery and a community forest. My goals through this position were to observe and learn first-hand about the processes of community development and environmental conservation agencies in developing countries. These goals were met through a ii series of meetings, tours, and duties through RCDP. I spent many days working with the community plant nursery, and learning from the local supervisor. Additionally, I met on numerous occasions with the director of a community forest, and learned about the basic goals and processes of their operation. I was able to subsidize these experiences with tours of natural areas, and communication with community members and businesses. A cultural tour and training were also included. These combined experiences were more than sufficient for meeting my internship goals and obligations of my graduate program. This report completes the requirement of a non-thesis Master of Science degree through the Botany and Plant Pathology Department. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/1957/13791 2009-11-17T00:00:00Z