The FBO is offering a Winter Woody Plant ID workshop at the University of Guelph Arboretum Taylor Centre in Guelph on Sunday, February 2nd, 2014. Brian Lacey, who helped to develop a manual of woody plants for the Department of Botany at the University of Guelph, will provide guidance on the characters used to recognize woody plant species without their leaves, including bark, winter buds, leaf scars and growth form. We will start using a hand lens and field guides with some samples indoors, and follow up with a walk around the Arboretum to apply our knowledge. The trip will end at approximately 4:00. If you are interested please contact Sarah Mainguy for details. Registration will be restricted to approximately 24 people due to space restrictions. Please note that there will be an additional charge to cover the room rental of $9.00 per person.
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Monday, November 25, 2013
Goldie Award Winner 2013 - Adele Crowder
The 2013 recipient of the Goldie Award was Adele Crowder. On October 17th 2013, FBO President Mike McMurtry and Bill McIlveen travelled to Kingston to present the award to Adele during the monthly meeting of the Kingston Field Naturalists.
Adele Crowder was born in Ireland, completed her PhD on the chemistry of peat bogs at Dublin University, and worked as a research associate in Paleoecology at the University of Belfast. In 1966 Adele came to Canada with her husband Christopher and three children and settled in Kingston where
Chris, a medieval historian, was appointed professor in the History Department at Queen’s University. Having initially turned down a full-time position in the Biology Department at Queen’s in order to balance family commitments, Adele began working part-time in the department, first as a lab coordinator in 1967, then as an assistant to Roland Beschel in the Fowler Herbarium, and eventually as a Professor of Biology. In 1970 she was named Curator of the Fowler Herbarium, a position
which she held until 1995. In 1971 she helped to develop a general Ecology course – Biology 202 – which she continued to teach with Professor Raleigh Robertson for 20 years. This course took a hands-on approach to field ecology with numerous field trips in the Kingston area and to the
field station at Lake Opinicon. Adele was a very involved and approachable teacher who inspired many students to pursue ecology and organismal biology as a course of study.
Adele is quick to tell you that she is not a taxonomist or field botanist – but rather a theoretical ecologist who makes observations in the field and takes them back to the lab to figure them out . Her research accomplishments are therefore cross - disciplinary in nature, and cover a broad spectrum of habitats.
The subjects of her academic publications range from the paleoecology of eastern Ontario streams and lake basins – to studies of aquatic macrophytes, wetlands, sediments and fish habitat in the Bay of Quinte – to metal uptake and toxicity in plants adjacent the Sudbury smelters – to forest succession in old fields. In addition to her academic work, Adele has conducted numerous botanical and ecological investigations and produced 45 technical reports for Parks Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, and the private sector. Focused on the Kingston region and eastern Ontario, these include ecosystem and species recovery plans, environmental assessments, feasibility studies and general inventories.
Over the course of her career Adele has supervised or mentored and co-published with 26 students. Among them, Don Cuddy, retired ecologist for OMNR, Dr. Gregory Taylor Dean of Science in the Office of Sustainability, and Professor in the Department of Biology, University of Alberta and the
late Sam Vander Kloet who was professor of Botany at Acadia University. As Curator of the Fowler Herbarium Adele was determined to make specimen information accessible for use. In 1996, she
was senior author of the Plants of the Kingston Region and has continued to update that publication with new specimen records in subsequent years. In 2003, she co-authored with Vivien Taylor a catalogue for the Jordon Library exhibition: Mrs.Traill, Mrs. Roy and Miss Boyd: Plant collectors in 19th century Upper Canada. The publication celebrates these three women, whose plant collections
were originally deposited in the Fowler Herbarium, and places them in an historical context of
Canadian botany and taxonomy at that time.
Adele has been , throughout her career, actively associated with the Queen’s University Biological Station (QUBS) at Lake Opinicon and has documented its flora. In 1976 she was instrumental in securement of the Hughson Tract, a significant expansion of land holdings of the station, which enabled long-term field studies and started the series of acquisitions which has provided a significant amount o f working property and a substantive conservation presence in the Rideau Lakes area (now in excess of 3,232 ha).
In 1979, Adele introduced the idea of and codeveloped and taught the Naturalists Workshops which were offered by the QUBS for 19 years. These week-long events were designed to provide interpreters, professional field biologists and dedicated naturalists with a broad knowledge of natural history, ecology and animal behaviour, and to assist with identification skills. She also convened one- or two-day workshops on wetlands, species at risk, and other topical subjects to train and enhance
communication amongst biologists working in the field. Adele continues to lend her scientific expertise to, and speak out on, local environmental issues.
The 2013 Goldie award celebrated Adele Crowder’s many contributions to our understanding of the ecology of Ontario plants and the impacts of human activity on them. She has provided us a model for the modern ecologist who increasingly needs to step outside of disciplinary boundaries and be willing to look at the interactions between plants, animals, fungi and their environments. Thank you Adele.
Adele Crowder was born in Ireland, completed her PhD on the chemistry of peat bogs at Dublin University, and worked as a research associate in Paleoecology at the University of Belfast. In 1966 Adele came to Canada with her husband Christopher and three children and settled in Kingston where
Chris, a medieval historian, was appointed professor in the History Department at Queen’s University. Having initially turned down a full-time position in the Biology Department at Queen’s in order to balance family commitments, Adele began working part-time in the department, first as a lab coordinator in 1967, then as an assistant to Roland Beschel in the Fowler Herbarium, and eventually as a Professor of Biology. In 1970 she was named Curator of the Fowler Herbarium, a positionwhich she held until 1995. In 1971 she helped to develop a general Ecology course – Biology 202 – which she continued to teach with Professor Raleigh Robertson for 20 years. This course took a hands-on approach to field ecology with numerous field trips in the Kingston area and to the
field station at Lake Opinicon. Adele was a very involved and approachable teacher who inspired many students to pursue ecology and organismal biology as a course of study.
Adele is quick to tell you that she is not a taxonomist or field botanist – but rather a theoretical ecologist who makes observations in the field and takes them back to the lab to figure them out . Her research accomplishments are therefore cross - disciplinary in nature, and cover a broad spectrum of habitats.
The subjects of her academic publications range from the paleoecology of eastern Ontario streams and lake basins – to studies of aquatic macrophytes, wetlands, sediments and fish habitat in the Bay of Quinte – to metal uptake and toxicity in plants adjacent the Sudbury smelters – to forest succession in old fields. In addition to her academic work, Adele has conducted numerous botanical and ecological investigations and produced 45 technical reports for Parks Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, and the private sector. Focused on the Kingston region and eastern Ontario, these include ecosystem and species recovery plans, environmental assessments, feasibility studies and general inventories.
Over the course of her career Adele has supervised or mentored and co-published with 26 students. Among them, Don Cuddy, retired ecologist for OMNR, Dr. Gregory Taylor Dean of Science in the Office of Sustainability, and Professor in the Department of Biology, University of Alberta and the
late Sam Vander Kloet who was professor of Botany at Acadia University. As Curator of the Fowler Herbarium Adele was determined to make specimen information accessible for use. In 1996, she
was senior author of the Plants of the Kingston Region and has continued to update that publication with new specimen records in subsequent years. In 2003, she co-authored with Vivien Taylor a catalogue for the Jordon Library exhibition: Mrs.Traill, Mrs. Roy and Miss Boyd: Plant collectors in 19th century Upper Canada. The publication celebrates these three women, whose plant collections
were originally deposited in the Fowler Herbarium, and places them in an historical context of
Canadian botany and taxonomy at that time.
Adele has been , throughout her career, actively associated with the Queen’s University Biological Station (QUBS) at Lake Opinicon and has documented its flora. In 1976 she was instrumental in securement of the Hughson Tract, a significant expansion of land holdings of the station, which enabled long-term field studies and started the series of acquisitions which has provided a significant amount o f working property and a substantive conservation presence in the Rideau Lakes area (now in excess of 3,232 ha).
In 1979, Adele introduced the idea of and codeveloped and taught the Naturalists Workshops which were offered by the QUBS for 19 years. These week-long events were designed to provide interpreters, professional field biologists and dedicated naturalists with a broad knowledge of natural history, ecology and animal behaviour, and to assist with identification skills. She also convened one- or two-day workshops on wetlands, species at risk, and other topical subjects to train and enhance
communication amongst biologists working in the field. Adele continues to lend her scientific expertise to, and speak out on, local environmental issues.
The 2013 Goldie award celebrated Adele Crowder’s many contributions to our understanding of the ecology of Ontario plants and the impacts of human activity on them. She has provided us a model for the modern ecologist who increasingly needs to step outside of disciplinary boundaries and be willing to look at the interactions between plants, animals, fungi and their environments. Thank you Adele.
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
The Once and Future Great Lakes Country
John Riley’s new book The Once and Future Great Lakes Country is available for pre-order, with a 20% discount. For those of you that don’t know about it, John has exhaustively researched the earliest accounts and descriptions of Great Lakes landscapes, many from the 1600’s. These very early accounts paint a picture of very open landscapes, rich with nut trees, vines, plums, abundant game etc. These descriptions differ from later accounts from the mid-1700’s and 1800’s. With the aboriginal population crash brought on by disease, the land reverted to much more of a forested condition.
http://www.mqup.ca/once-and-future-great-lakes-country--the-products-9780773541771.php?page_id=73&. Then “Preorder”, then “Checkout”, and then “Promo Code” and enter “RILEYJ13”. Some relief from new book pricing.”
http://www.mqup.ca/once-and-future-great-lakes-country--the-products-9780773541771.php?page_id=73&. Then “Preorder”, then “Checkout”, and then “Promo Code” and enter “RILEYJ13”. Some relief from new book pricing.”
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
29th Annual General Meeting
Field Botanists of Ontario’s
29th Annual General Meeting
Saturday - Sunday
September 14 and 15, 2013
Cambridge
The AGM is a two day event with two field trip options on Saturday and two on Sunday. When you sign up for a trip, you will receive detailed instructions on where to meet one to two weeks prior to the date. The evening meal and talk, and this year’s Annual General Meeting (open to executive and members) will be held in Cambridge at the Hilton Garden Inn.
Four trips (two on Saturday and two on Sunday) have been organized for your enjoyment and our leaders will take you to various botanical hotspots of the Cambridge area.
Please note that field trips are open to non-FBO members but there is a surcharge of $5 per person per trip, and after priority has been given to the members. Your cheque will be cashed following the AGM. Refunds will be issued provided cancellations are made at least 7 days prior to the AGM. No-shows will not be refunded.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Looking for BioBlitz Leader
Ontario Nature is having their 82nd AGM on June 8, 2013 and part of the activities for the day are a mini BioBlitz on our Cawthra Mulock Nature Reserve (just northwest of Newmarket).
As a Provincial Partner of Ontario Nature’s Nature Network, I was wondering if someone from the Field Botanists of Ontario would be available and willing to co-lead the plants group at our BioBlitz (this will be both a BioBlitz and an educational hike). It will run from 10am – 12pm and then 1pm – 3pm with a BBQ lunch in between. The group will be about 20-30 people which could split up into two separate groups and/or be co-lead by another plant expert.
Ontario Nature would be happy to cover your lunch and mileage to and from the event. Please let me know if anyone would be interested, or if you have any questions. We would love to have you join us.
Lauren Wright laurenw@ontarionature.org
Thursday, January 24, 2013
RBG’s Plant Identification Workshops
See the link here!
Wetland Graminoid Identification – June 20-21, 2013
Grass Identification – July 11-12, 2013
Fern and Allies Identification – July 25-25, 2013
Aster and Goldenrod Identification – September 12-13, 2013
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