Hello, This particular mail caught my attention and i was really surprised at the long list of things that are recommended for a field trip. I am a plant taxonomist my self and a conservationist too and believe me i never carried any of these things into a forest. I always had a good camera with me and a small cutter that would allow me to take sample for my studies if and when needed.
Why do we need to take samples if plants can be identified thru good pictures. I remember attending a seminar where sample collection from the wild was highly discouraged cos we humans tend to take more than required and that surely has adverse effect on the forest. So i think we shudnt make it a habit to carry any implements in the forest. These are my views. people may differ On Nov 27, 9:18 am, Pinki <alok12...@gmail.com> wrote: > Great mail Rajesh Ji. i am a plant taxonomist and i carry a kit with > me which includes most of these things but it is a bit mismanaged. > getting ideas from this mail i am planning for an all new backpack > with all these things for sure...i think one thing i miss the most is > a long rod or something with a mounted hook or a blade to cut down or > pull down a branch or anything which is worth noticing but is out of > reach. i had once seen an instrument which had a gun like butt and a > trigger and on its barrel were two flexible arms which can be clasped > together when you press the 'trigger' the instrument was to pick up > things from a distance but it was a bit soft for branches and > all....we can find or improvise or design such a thing suitable for > our needs. or if any such thing exists i dont have knowledge.... > > Alok > > On Nov 25, 11:47 pm, Rajesh Sachdev <leopard...@gmail.com> wrote: > > >http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/2000-01/949009441.Bt.r.html > > > <http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/2000-01/949009441.Bt.q.html> > > > The tools of a field botanist can be divided into two categories: field > > equipment and office/lab equipment. I've included a list of this > > equipment with a short description of its use. > > > Field equipment: > > EYEPIECE WITH LANYARD: usually worn around neck and used to observe small > > details on plant(i.e. looking for glands on the underside of a leaf). > > > NOTEBOOK AND PENCIL: recording field notes. > > > COMPASS: record directional information and assistance getting in and, > > more importantly, out of the woods. > > > PRUNER: to clip woody specimens. > > > TROWEL: when collecting herbaceous plants, it is best to collect the whole > > plant, roots and all. > > > COLLECTING BAG: place specimens in bag (zip lock etc.) to prevent wilting > > until you press plants. > > > FIELD GUIDE: From Virginia northward to Maine, many use Gleason and > > Cronquist's *Manual to Vascular Plants*. In Virginia, North Carolina and > > South Carolina, Radford, Ahles and Bell *Manual to the Flora of the > > Carolinas* is the best source but it may be too heavy for field use. For > > professional and amateur botanist alike, Newcomb's *Wildflower Guide* is an > > excellent book and one that I highly recommend. > > > CAMERA: For taking pictures of particularly rare plants. Photos may be > > used as voucher specimens if you do not wish to collect a plant. > > > WATER: Especially important on long hikes or hot days. > > > INSECT REPELLENT: Optional, depending on the habitat you are searching. > > > FIELD PACK: To carry all the above in. > > > PLANT PRESS: Some wait until they're back at the lab to press plants, > > others press plants while still in the field. > > > APPROPRIATE FOOTWEAR: If you hiking steep rocky areas, this is especially > > important. > > > GPS: With technology changing, more and more botanist are using GPS. > > > BIRD BOOK/OTHER GUIDES: Optional, for those with interest beyond the plant > > kingdom. > > > Once you arrive back to lab/office, the following tools are most useful. > > > MICROSCOPE: Used to view the fine details that often distinguish closely > > related species. > > > FLORISTIC KEYS: In addition to the guides I've mentioned above, one may > > use keys specific to a certain group of plants (i.e. key to aquatic > > species, key to goldenrods, etc.). These keys are used to determine the > > exact species / taxa you are trying to identify. > > > DISSECTING NEEDLES: With many species, you need to dissect the plant to > > properly identify it. For example, many grass keys ask for differences in > > the seed shape, but the seed is protected by other parts of the grass. > > Needles are a good way to tease the tissue away and find the part you need. > > > METRIC RULER: A ruler with millimeter markings is critical. Most > > measurements within the keys are based on the metric system. > > > REFERENCE MATERIAL: If you have access to a herbarium, this is most > > helpful. Once you have tentatively keyed you plant, comparing it to a > > herbarium specimen will allow you to verify or reject your ID. > > > PLANT PRESS: If you're material was not pressed in the field, it should be > > pressed as soon as possible after returning to the lab. Old newspaper > > sheets are best to use as holders for individual specimens within the > > press. The press may be placed in a plant dryer or simply in a warm, dry > > room. > > > LABEL PROGRAM: Once the specimens are properly identified and pressed, a > > label providing directions to the collection site with a habitat > > description should be created. The specimen and label will be given to a > > herbarium so that they may mount the specimen on archival quality > > herbarium paper and place the specimen within their collection. If > > properly pressed and archived, the specimen may be used for many, many > > years by other botanist and researchers. > > > The above only represents the most common tools that a botanist will use. > > Each botanist has personal preferences regarding what to use or not use. > > Some may not use some of the items listed, while others may have > > additional tools. This list is a good list describing the basic tools. > > > -- > > Regards > > Rajesh Sachdev > > Mumbai,India > > +91 98902-55616 > > rajeshdsach...@googlemail.comwww.rajesh-sachdev.blogspot.comhttp://picasaweb.google.co.in/leopardguy > > --- > > > “The tiger cannot be preserved in isolation. It is at the apex of a large > > and complex biotope. Its habitat, threatened by human intrusion, commercial > > forestry and cattle grazing must first be made inviolate.” - Ms Indira > > Gandhi -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "indiantreepix" group. To post to this group, send email to indiantree...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to indiantreepix+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/indiantreepix?hl=en.
