Abstract Detail

Biodiversity at the brink: leveraging herbaria for conservation!

Giblin, David [1], Legler, Ben [2], Olmstead, Richard [3].

Supporting plant conservation through field- and collections-based activities at the University of Washington Herbarium, Burke Museum.

Researchers at the University of Washington Herbarium at the Burke Museum (WTU) have conducted more than 200 collecting trips over the past 20 years to mostly federal and state lands in Washington, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Nevada. These outings have generated over 40,000 specimens documenting novel rare plant populations, newly introduced non-native species to the region, and the spread of previously documented introduced species. Concurrently, WTU has led internal and regional specimen digitization efforts to create online access to over 3.1 million specimens from nearly 50 Pacific Northwest herbaria. Collectively these efforts have benefitted multiple natural heritage programs, informed federal and state land management practices, and supported a recent revision of the region's primary flora manual. These activities enhance conservation efforts by documenting both rare and invasive species, establishing baseline data in the face of a changing climate, and promoting public participation and awareness.

1 - University Of Washington, Box 355325, Seattle, WA, 98195, United States
2 - University of Wyoming, Rocky Mountain Herbarium, 1000 E University Ave, Laramie, WY, 82071, USA
3 - University Of Washington, Biology Department And Burke Museum, Department Of Biology, Seattle, WA, 98155, United States

Keywords:
Pacific Northwest
plant collecting
Consortium of PNW Herbaria
regional flora
database
image gallery
natural heritage program
invasive species.

Presentation Type: Special Sessions
Number: SS007
Abstract ID:288
Candidate for Awards:None