2010 Symposium Program
Botanical Treasures in Northern California – What's at Stake?
January 11-13, 2010
California State University Chico
Bell Memorial Union Auditorium
January 11, Monday, Sessions and Speakers
7:30 - 9:00 a.m.
- Check-in for registered participants, late registration, and poster set-up
9:00 - 9:10 Welcome
- Linnea Hanson, Plumas National Forest and President of Northern California Botanists – Welcome to the Third Northern California Botanists Symposium.
9:10 - 10:10 Session 1: Maintaining the Wealth of Plant Diversity for Long-Term Conservation
Christine Hantelman, Chair
- Christina Sloop, Sonoma State University – Conservation genetics of Butte County meadowfoam (Limnanthes floccosa ssp. californica Arroyo), an endangered vernal pool endemic.
- Kimiora Ward, Institute of Applied Ecology – Developing genetically diverse germplasm using an ecoregional approach.
- Susan Harrison, University of California, Davis – Large-scale threats to serpentine ecosystems.
10:10 - 10:30 Break
10:30 - 12:10 Session 2: Exotics - Robbers in the Native Landscape
Samantha Hillaire, Chair
- Clare Aslan, University of California, Davis – Emerging mutualisms: The role of bird dispersal in non-native plant invasions.
- Marit Wilkerson, University of California, Davis – Downsides to corridors: Examining plant invasion potential in linear biodiversity features.
- Kristina Schierenbeck, California State University, Chico – Targeted grazing as an effective control for non-native Lolium multiflorum among the rare species Cordylanthus palmatus in alkali meadow habitats.
- Christina Sloop, B.A.E.D.N. – Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation – The San Francisco Bay Area Early Detection Network.
- Craig Thomsen, University of California, Davis – Invasive plant management on BLM's Bear Creek Ranch, Cache Creek Natural Area.
12:10 - 1:40 Lunch
1:40 - 3:00 Session 3: Pollination and Reproductive Biology: Spreading the Wealth
Karen Wiese, Chair
- Gordon Frankie, University of California, Berkeley – Native bees are a rich natural resource in urban California gardens.
- Justen Whittall, University of Santa Clara – The Metcalf Jewelflower (Streptanthus albidus ssp. albidus) – Still a mystery.
- Robbin Thorp, University of California, Davis – Native bees and vernal pool flowers: The upland connection.
- Pete Haggard, Biologist – Attracting pollinators in a native plant garden.
3:00 - 3:20 Break
3:20 - 4:20 Session 4: Plant-Animal Interactions: Cashing in and Paying the Price
Barbara Castro, Chair
- Don Miller, California State University, Chico – Gall induction by Tamalia aphids lowers seed set in Arctostaphylos patula.
- Colleen Hatfield, California State University, Chico – The relationship between elderberry health and valley elderberry longhorn beetle occupation in restored habitat.
- Ian Pearse, University of California, Davis – Why do some non-native oak species escape herbivory in California, while others accumulate native insects?
Evening Activities
5:30 - 7:00 Reception
- No-Host Bar and complimentary hors d’oeuvres will be held adjacent to the Poster Display Area following the Monday afternoon sessions.
7:00 - 8:00 Banquet (tickets required)
- Buffet dinner will include fish, meat, and vegetarian entrees. Complimentary wine served with dinner.
8:00 - 9:00 Keynote Speaker
- Bruce Baldwin, University of California, Berkeley – Botanical and conservation challenges of cryptic diversity in the California flora.
January 12, Tuesday, Sessions and Speakers
8:00 - 8:30 a.m.
- Check-in for one-day registrants
8:30 - 8:40 Introduction
8:40 - 10:00 Session 5: Assessing our Networth: Some Tools for Evaluating Ecosystems
Joe Silveira, Chair
- Jason Schwenkler, Geographical Information Center, California State University Chico - Sticking with tradition: An aerial approach to digital interpretive mapping.
- Christopher Dolanc, University of California, Davis – Changes in structure and composition of high-elevation conifers of the Central Sierra Nevada since the early 1930’s.
- Don Hankins, California State University, Chico – The green side of black: Burning to achieve multiple ecosystem objectives.
- Kevin Rice, University of California, Davis – Evolutionary considerations in ecosystem conservation.
10:00 - 10:20 Break
10:20 - 11:40 Session 6: Bryophytes: Gems in the Landscape
Julie Nelson, Chair
- Carl Wishner, Biologist – Bryophyte diversity in Northern California fens.
- Colin Dillingham, U.S. Forest Service – Bryoflora of the Plumas National Forest.
- Jim Shevock, California Academy of Science – Catching the bryobug in Northern California: Can vascular-trained botanists become great bryologists?
- Brent Mishler, University of California, Berkeley – Factors influencing the biogeographic and ecological distribution of bryophytes in California: Mosses are from Mars, vascular plants are from Venus.
11:40 - 1:10 Lunch
1:10 - 2:30 Session 7: How Do We Encourage Future Botanists: Establishing a Living Trust
Gail Kuenster, Chair
- Carol Witham, California Native Plant Society – Increasing nature observations skills in primary school children.
- Adrienne Edwards, California State University, Chico – Where the wild things are: Establishing a native plant-pollinator garden to inform the wild rumpus.
- Tanya Heaston, California State University, Chico – An early teaching experience in science: Why we need it, why we teach it, and how do we get teachers to teach science in elementary school?
- Teresa Sholars, College of the Redwoods – Creating future botanists: Being the match to light the spark.
2:30 - 2:50 Break
2:50 - 4:10 Session 8: New Botanical Treasures
Chris Christofferson, Chair
- Judy Perkins, Modoc National Forest – Range extension discoveries of Tuctoria greenei (Greene’s Tuctoria) on Modoc National Forest.
- Michael Mesler, Humboldt State University – A resurrection for Siskiyou Bells, Prosartes parvifolia S.Watson (Liliaceae), a rare Siskiyou Mountains endemic.
- Roy Buck, University of California, Berkeley – Sidalcea gigantea, a remarkable new species from Northern California.
- Dana York, Caltrans – Eriogonum villosissimum (Polygonaceae, Eriogonoideae), a new species endemic to Acker Rock, Oregon
4:10 - 4:20 Closing Remarks
- Linnea Hanson, Plumas National Forest and President of Northern California Botanists
January 13, Wednesday, Workshops
Workshop 1: Introduction to the 2nd Edition of A Manual of California Vegetation
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
$100.00
 Instructors: John O. Sawyer, Professor Emeritus, Humboldt State University; Todd Keeler Wolf, California Department of Fish and Game; and Julie Evens, California Native Plant Society.
The authors will debut the second edition of A Manual of California Vegetation. They will provide an overview of additions and changes to the manual, including new vegetation types recognized or redefined across many habitats. You will learn how to use the new manual in conservation and management of California’s diverse vegetation types.
Workshop 2: Positively Lively Photosynthesis: Hands-on Botany Lab for Teachers
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
$25.00
Instructor: Tanya Heaston - Hands on Science Lab, California State University, Chico
Do the California Science Standards make you blue? Join this workshop filled with fun-filled experiments to help 4-9th graders enjoy learning the process of photosynthesis and basic botany. This workshop is geared for all who work with 4-9th grades and interested educators. Leave with a bounty of experiments and lessons bound to excite your students.
Workshop 3: Resources for Beginning Professional Botanists: What You Didn’t Learn in College
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
$50.00
Instructor: Samantha Hillaire, Garcia and Associates
This workshop is intended to familiarize the beginning or aspiring professional botanist with a basic overview of State and Federal agency laws, regulations and practical applications as they relate to botany and the environment, including the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA), the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA), and the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). We'll cover the general regulatory framework of several State and federal agencies including the US Fish and Wildlife Service, California Department of Fish and Game, Army Corps of Engineers, and the US Forest Service. Each agency operates independently, yet often in parallel on one project, so key permits and processes for working with these agencies is helpful and very important to understand. Topics such as Biological Assessments, Biological Evaluations, Initial Studies, and wetland delineations will be introduced, with a focus on the practical working information for a beginning botanist. Workshop materials will include a collection of government and other public references for your further use.
Workshop 4: Restoring Riparian Habitats on the Sacramento River Floodplain (Field Trip)
8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
$35.00
Leaders: Tom Griggs, River Partners; Greg Golet, The Nature Conservancy; Ryan Luster, The Nature Conservancy; John Anderson, Hedgerow Farms; and Joe Silveira, Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex
This field trip is designed to expose participants to various issues of restoring riparian floodplain habitats for indigenous flora and fauna. Since 1991, The Nature Conservancy, River Partners, Hedgerow Farms and other partners have restored over 4,000 acres of riparian habitats at Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge. We will explore past restoration projects at the Refuge to discuss restoration site evaluation, plant materials selection, plant propagation, approaches to horticultural restoration and restoration monitoring, including how invertebrate and vertebrates have responded to our 20-year effort. We will discuss and evaluate how the current abiotic conditions and physical processes of the Sacramento River influenced the development of our planting designs, while considering the current post-Shasta Dam hydrograph and socio-economic interests. Results from over 30 monitoring surveys and research investigations give insights about the potential for various taxa to colonize restoration sites, while also raising questions about how future restoration designs will account for scale and connectivity of floodplain habitats along the Sacramento River. This is a unique opportunity to see several projects in various stages of development and exchange information with experienced restoration practitioners, scientists and habitat managers. Field trip leaders have a combined 80 years of experience in restoration ecology and habitat management. Handouts will be provided.
What to Bring: Layered clothing (could be warm, cold, windy or wet), trail boots, camera, binoculars, and lunch. Refreshments and trail snacks will be provided.
Meeting location will be announced. Plan on carpooling.
(Above) This site on the Sacramento River was previously occupied by a prune orchard, protected by a private levee. TNC restored the habitat to mixed riparian forest and the Sacramento Refuge removed the levee.
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