May 2016 Plant hunt summary

The month of May, 2016  began  5 - 7 days behind 2015 for blooming periods, but caught up with the blooming periods of 2015 by mid May, 2016.  Floristic surveys for the month of May were varied and covered a total of 21 counties, or regional municipalities within the Mixed deciduous, Carolinian and Boreal forest regions of Ontario.

The surveys began with cataloguing vegetation during an Environmental Impact Study (EIS) within an 8 ha Significant Woodland (SW) in Niagara region on May 1st.  During this excursion the entire oak-hickory deciduous forest component of this SW was found to be full of provincially rare Red Hickory (Carya glabra), while the open woodland contained provincially and federally endangered Butternut (Juglans cinerea).

On May 14, 2016 EARTHQUEST launched the official kick-off for the update to the vascular plants of Port Burwell Provincial Park with the Otter Valley Naturalists (OVN).

Photo: Sara Lattanzio (from left to right; Dave Jolly, Joe Stephenson, Peter Staley, Ron Allensan and Tom Manley)

A total of 175 species of vascular plants were observed by Dave and other members of the OVN with several plant specimens of a western pine species - Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), pointed out by Ron, as the field trip highlight.  Thanks to Ron Douglas-fir was a new addition to the updated master plant species list.  Other new additions to the plant list include; Amur Maple (Acer ginnala), Chinese Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus), regionally rare Azure Aster (Symphyotrichum oolentangiensis), Goatgrass (Aegilops ovata), Sassafras (Sassafras albidum), Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium), Northern Dewberry (Rubus flagellaris), and American Mountain-ash (Sorbus americana).  Also noted was a sapling Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata), which are relatively rare within the Park boundaries.  This was an excellent way to kick off this project compared to the 185 plant species originally documented in mid September, 2001, which was cancelled due to the 911 event.  

For those that missed the May 14th kick-off for the plants of Port Burwell PP update - I'll be giving a talk at the Park on Friday July 15th at 4 pm, which is also .  Simple meet at the Recreation Field & Interpretive Center within the Park.  We'll be hiking the Ravine Creek trail in search of plants to contribute to the official master plant list for Port Burwell PP.  

On May 24th a field visit to another EARTHQUEST project between Sudbury and Manitoulin Island on behalf of Moggy Environmental revealed 8 new plant records for Manitoulin county, including tiny (plant depicted in the photo is approximately 8 cm) Creeping Snowberry (Gaultheria hispidus) - a new record for the Plants of Ontario database.

Photo:  Dave JollyCreeping Snowberry (Gaultheria hispidus) in bloom

Saturday May 28th covered 3.2 km along the Bruce Trail near Iroquois Heights Conservation Area (CA) on behalf of the Bruce Trail Conservancy (BTC).  Courtney Baldo, a volunteer Field Botany Mentorship participant assisted with this endeavour.  Courtney joined the mentorship program in April, 2016

Photo: Dave Jolly
Courtney taking notes along Bruce Trail near Iroquois Heights CA

A total of 20 families, 24 genera and 27 species were documented.  Canada Violet (Viola canadensis) was regionally rare.  Common Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) and Hair Fescue (Festuca filiformis) were new discoveries added to the Bruce Trail Project.  

Elsewhere along the Bruce Trail, or on BTC property Brian Popelier of the BTC surveyed 5 counties cataloguing 490 records.  Of these, Brian added 4 new records to the Plants of Ontario database; False Melic Grass (Schizachne purpurascens), Grooved Meadow Grass (Poa alsoides), Inflated Narrow Leaved Sedge (Carex grisea), and White Bear Sedge (Carex albursina).

In summary, 310 species were observed, including 4 provincially and federally listed Species at Risk, and 9 provincially rare plants.

To view all the plants discovered please visit the May monthly summary 

April, 2016 Plant hunt summary

We are delighted to announce that 3 young budding Volunteer Field Botanists have been selected for the Field Botany Mentorship program.  The program initiated on April 30th with a hike along the Bruce Trail in the scenic waterfall laced Dundas Valley to collect data for the Bruce Trail Conservancy.

Talia Plaskett. One of the Field Botanists of the Volunteer Field Botanist Mentorship Program
Photo: Talia Plaskett

The month of April experienced some unusually warm days, but most days were cool.  Subsequently, some plants received a good jump-start to the growing season, but the cooler days delayed other plants.  Overall, the plants blooming now are on schedule compared to the past ten years of data collection.  For example, White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) was first observed flowering on April 24th

A total of 77 species were observed among 7 counties and regional municipalities surveyed.  Highlights were 1 new record for the EARTHQUEST Plants of Ontario database - Fumewort (Corydalis solida) plus 3 new records for Halton region  -  provincially rare Bristly Buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus var. hispidus), Fumewort, and Bethlehem sage (Pulmonaria officinalis).

The most significant record belongs to Bristly Buttercup.  There are no Natural Heritage Information Centre (NHIC) Element Occurrence records for Halton region, so the EARTHQUEST record would be considered new for the NHIC.

Bristly Buttercup (R. hispidus var. hispidus)
Photo: Dave Jolly

Download your copy of the April, 2016 plant hunt summary.

March, 2016 Plant hunt summary

March marks the 10th year anniversary of our first flowering date record collected on March 26, 2006 for White Elm (Ulmus americana).  Over this time, over 55 surveyors have recorded plants across 15,451 ha of natural areas assessing 2524 Ecological Land Classification polygons on 36 environmental projects.  Since 2006 patterns in plant rarity have emerged with some interesting trends.  These will be highlighted at talk on "The State of Elgin County's Wild Plants in the 21st Century: Patterns and Trends in Rarity, Abundance and Distribution" for the Otter Valley Naturalists scheduled for May 9, 2016 at the Vienna Community Centre in Vienna, Ontario.

A few warmer days in March gave spring a jump start with some plants blooming a few weeks earlier than average.  Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum) began flowering on March 9.  This is consistent with the onset of blooming in 2012, which was one of the warmest springs recorded during our 10 year sojourn conducting plant surveys.  Cold spells, however, delayed flowering resulting in plants blooming during their normal periods.

An early record of regionally rare (R2 in the Carolinian forest region - source: EARTHQUEST Plants of Ontario database) American Hazel (Corylus americana) was observed on March 24, 2016 in Norfolk county.

Photo: Dave Jolly

The earliest record for this species was recorded on March 20, 2012.  Note the 3 lobed calyx - indicative of Corylus and Betula genera within the Birch/Betulaceae family.

A total of 19 species were recorded among 5 counties in southern Ontario.  This did not beat the March, 2012 total of 80 species, but did beat all other previous years.

To view the March plant hunt summary please visit our website;

http://www.earthquestcanada.ca/March2016summary.pdf

Social Media Rules of Engagement

EARTHQUEST (Canada) for the Environment is an environmental organization established in 1997, specializing in botanical surveys, Species at Risk (SAR), Environmental Impact Studies and consultation for First Nations.  The EARTHQUEST Biological Field School was opened in 2004 as a private vocational institution that provides skill upgrades to professionals and individuals in the environmental industry.

This blog site, our Facebook and Twitter account are used to post activities, events, courses, programs and projects that we are involved with.  If you wish to leave a comment, or contribute to an article here are the rules of engagement for participating on these media platforms:

1.  Contributors are encouraged to post their comments, questions, thoughts and observations politely;

2.  We appreciate information regarding SAR flora, but please do not share them on this site.  We adhere to the data sensitivity policies of the Natural Heritage Information Centre (NHIC).  If you choose to submit your rare plant or SAR observations or records to the NHIC and/or EARTHQUEST please do submit them discretely in a confidential email;

3.  EARTHQUEST does post jobs, internships and volunteer-related opportunities, but does not endorse petitions.  The opinions and views expressed on these postings belong solely to those organizations or individuals posting them and do not reflect those of EARTHQUEST;

4.  Please exercise civil discourse when posting material.  Posts containing personal attacks, profanity, or any negative material will be removed and reported

Mentorship for Young Budding Botanists

Now accepting new applications for 2024

We are delighted to announce a partnership with Fieldlife Environmental Consultants & Ecological Services to provide a unique mentorship opportunity.

Those selected will receive experience in vegetation ecology and Species at Risk surveys from a qualified professional and expert Botanist. Botanical work will be focused on vegetation surveys along the length of the Niagara Escarpment World Biosphere Reserve between Tobermory and Queenston Heights, Ontario. The project will culminate in the publication of a book on the flora. In memorandum of the late Ann Bard, who kindly donated her time, energy and services to staff and students of the EARTHQUEST Biological Field School by allowing us to use her Bed and Breakfast while hiking the Bruce Trail we would like to dedicate all proceeds from the sale of this book to be donated to the Bruce Trail Conservancy.  Please view this video in Ann's honour (If you have any trouble viewing this video please go to this link).

Survey methodology will consist of hiking the trail system with an expert Botanist and recording all plants found. Photographs of plants and their habitat from volunteers may be credited in the book. You could also be asked to contribute written sections to the book content. Hiking may take several hours to full 8 hour days traveling an average of 4 - 12 km per hike. Hikes are mainly organized on weekend dates, weather permitting.

Volunteers may also be selected to survey Species at Risk vegetation within a Provincial Park in the Port Burwell, Ontario area.  Volunteers selected for this project may be asked to undergo data sensitivity training. Other volunteer opportunities may involve assisting with guided hikes on behalf of Fieldlife Services.

Who is this Mentorship opportunity most suited for?

This position is open to all, but preference will be given to beginners who need the experience and mentorship. For those who do not have the botanical skills necessary to participate we highly recommend taking plant courses from the EARTHQUEST Biological Field School. Students and volunteers may take courses for discounted rates. Enrollment in an EARTHQUEST course is highly encouraged in order to participate in the work schedule.  Please visit our website for details:

http://www.earthquestcanada.ca/Plantcourses.htm
https://earthquestcanada.wixsite.com/plantcourses/field-botany-mentorship

Roles and Duties

The role and duties of this unique volunteer opportunity includes:

• Assisting staff with botanical surveys in search of Ontario Species at Risk;
• Learning intimately about vegetation ecology, survey protocols and methodology, native plant, Species at Risk and invasive plant identification and data collection. This includes plants which are notoriously difficult to identify such as asters, goldenrods, grasses, sedges and rushes;
• Contributing valuable data to a much needed and anticipated book for land management purposes, conservation and research

What is the benefit of becoming a Volunteer Botanist?

•Become more attractive to employers seeking candidates with skills in field botany, GIS and database management;
•Receive hands-on practical training and field experience in the environmental field within several disciplines – field Botany, GIS and database management;
•Gain professional connections and networking opportunities;
•Gain valuable insight and experience with the vegetation ecology of one of Ontario’s premier geological land formations;
•Get to know the Niagara Escarpment and meet new people;
•Learn GIS skills associated with how to map vegetation communities and populations;
•Learn about the environmental assessment process as it relates to conducting vegetation surveys in Ontario;
•Acquire skills associated with data collection and database management using MicroSoft software (i.e. Excel and Access)

Qualifications of candidates

•Comfortable working outdoors in all weather conditions;
•Enthusiastic with a sense of humor;
•Comfortable hiking and working in small groups;
•Able to work independently and as part of a team;
• A strong communicator with ability to take notes and photographs;
•A desire to learn and work with a mentor, taking a botany course if necessary;
• Reasonable with time management, judging hiking distances and aerial photo interpretation;
•Willing to spend time entering data into a database;
• Experience or interest in pursuing botany or a career in the environmental field;
• Experience working in the outdoors;
• Previous volunteer experience

Time Commitment

Volunteer work takes place primarily over weekend dates, not including statuatory holidays. Volunteer Botanists are asked to commit to volunteering a minimum of once per month from May – October, approximately 4 – 8 hours per hike. You will spend up to 2 – 4 hours per day entering data collected from field visits into the database. Alternatively, you may choose to spend up to 1 month entering data after program completion (i.e. November, 2023).  Volunteers who contribute the most vascular plant records will be awarded the Ann Bard Award at the close of their mentorship.

Application Procedure

We can only accept a limited number of volunteers for this mentorship opportunity. All applicants must complete the following steps to be considered for this unique program:

*Attend an interview with EARTHQUEST staff;
*Research the Niagara Escarpment and know the local topography, flora, time and distance required to hike between sites;
* Attend a field botany training session designed to help determine your botanical inventory rate

To be considered please submit a letter telling us why you wish to join this program, your qualifications, commitment to receiving mentorship and training from experienced professionals, desire to take plant courses along with your resume and three references.

Testimonials

To view comments from previous participants of this program please visit:

https://www.goabroad.com/providers/earthquest-canada-for-the-environment/programs/mentorship-in-field-botany-142506

Deadline to Apply

May 1, 2024

For further information about this program, please email us at earthquestcanada@yahoo.com