WETLAND ECOLOGY BIOLOGY 4430 FALL 2014 Instructor: Dr. Peter Lee Technician: Dr. Susanne Walford
Wetlands are not conventional wild areas. They do not cater to established, classical concepts of vista, horizon, and landscape. By comparison with the Smokies or the High Sierra, wetlands are claustrophobic. They force you inward, both upon yourself and upon the nonhuman world. They do not give you grand views; they humble you rather than reinforce your delusions of grandeur. -P.A. Fritzell...snakes hang thick from the cypress trees like sausage on a smokehouse wall; where the swamp is alive with a thousand eyes and all of them watching you... -Jim Stafford Cover image: Collecting wetland plants at Hurkett Cove Conservation Area. Class of 2012.
Contents 1 Syllabus 2014 5 1.1 Required materials................................. 5 1.2 Lecture topics.................................... 6 1.3 Lab dates and topics................................. 7 1.3.1 Wild rice harvesting............................ 8 1.4 Mark breakdown.................................. 8 1.5 Suggested review material............................. 8 1.6 Safety considerations................................ 8 1.6.1 Field trips.................................. 9 1.7 Plant collection................................... 10 1.7.1 Field collecting............................... 11 1.7.2 How to make a plant press......................... 12 1.7.3 Mounting and identifying your specimens................. 14 1.8 Plant identification tests............................... 14 1.9 Wetland project................................... 15 1.9.1 Outline................................... 15 1.9.2 Marking................................... 16 1.10 Wetland ecosite key................................. 16 1.11 Some helpful plant ID hints for TAs........................ 36 2 Field Trip: Wild Rice Harvesting 37 2.1 Introduction..................................... 37 2.2 Map......................................... 37 3 Field Trip: Inland Wetlands 39 3.1 Introduction..................................... 39 4 Field Trip: Lake Superior Wetlands 41 4.1 Introduction..................................... 41 4.2 Maps........................................ 42
4 Contents 5 Plant Identification: Marsh Plants 45 5.1 Introduction..................................... 45 5.2 Meadow Marsh (Ecosite 46)............................ 46 5.3 Sheltered Marsh (Ecosite 47)............................ 46 5.4 Exposed Marsh (Ecosite 48)............................ 47 5.5 Open Water Marshes (Ecosites 49 & 50)...................... 47 6 Plant Identification: Fen Plants 49 6.1 Introduction..................................... 49 6.2 Treed Fen (Ecosite 40)............................... 50 6.3 Open Poor Fen (Ecosite 41)............................. 50 6.4 Open Moderately Rich Fen (Ecosite 42)...................... 50 6.5 Open Extremely Rich Fen (Ecosite 43)....................... 50 6.6 Shore Fen (Ecosite 45)............................... 51 7 Plant ID Lab Test 1 Answer Page 53 8 Plant Identification: Bog Plants 55 8.1 Introduction..................................... 55 8.2 Treed Bog (Ecosite 34)............................... 56 8.3 Open Bog (Ecosite 39)............................... 56 9 Plant Identification: Swamp Plants 57 9.1 Introduction..................................... 57 9.2 Poor Swamp (Ecosite 35).............................. 57 9.3 Intermediate Swamp (Ecosite 36).......................... 58 9.4 Rich Swamp: Cedar (Ecosite 37).......................... 58 9.5 Rich Swamp: Black Ash (Ecosite 38)....................... 58 9.6 Thicket Swamp (Ecosite 44)............................ 58 10 Plant ID Lab Test 2 Answer Page 61 11 Inventory of Specimens as of 2014 63 Bibliography 72 Wetland Ecology (BIOL 4430) Fall 2014
1 Syllabus 2014 1.1 Required materials Required materials include this lab manual and the textbook Wetlands published by Wiley. The 3rd edition (Mitsch and Gosselink, 2000) is adequate. The 4th edition (Mitsch and Gosselink, 2007) has dropped some sections from the 3rd edition that Dr. Lee feels are an integral part of the course. These sections can be found (for free) in the companion site for students (http:// bcs.wiley.com/he-bcs/books?action=index&itemid=0471699675&bcsid= 3998) as bonus chapters. A 5th edition is slated for 2015 (Mitsch and Gosselink, 2015), so purchase a 4th edition with caution. Pre-printed labels for your plant collection are required and available in the bookstore for under $2.00. You will also require at least 30 sheets of thicker quality, acid free paper (11.5 17 in) for mounting your plant collection. Consider using a field notebook during our trips to make notes about the plants for your collection. A waterproof book and pencil are ideal for wet conditions. Scrap paper can be used as labels to be placed in plastic bags during plant collection (use pencil; pen will rub off). Newmaster et al. (1997) is recommended and is an excellent field guide; bring it with you to the field! A copy is on reserve at the library. Another reference is Racey et al. (1996) which is now available as a PDF at http://cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/publications?id=9298. A few of its pages are included here as a quick reference guide. An online northern Ontario plant database can be found at http://www.northernontarioflora.ca/index.cfm. Additional resources may be provided via the course website hosted on Desire to Learn.
6 1 Syllabus 2014 1.2 Lecture topics Professor: Peter F. Lee Office: CB4022 Email: peter.lee@lakeheadu.ca Lectures are scheduled for Mondays 10:30 am and Thursdays 2:30 pm in CB3013. The following topics will be covered: 1. Importance and classification of wetlands 2. Sediment chemistry of wetlands: Redox, N, P, organic matter 3. Water chemistry: Carbonate cycle, N, P 4. Production and adaptation of aquatic plants 5. Secondary production 6. Decomposition processes 7. Succession in wetlands 8. Sampling of wetlands 9. Survey of wetland types: Salt marshes, tidal freshwater marshes, freshwater marshes, southern swamps, bogs 10. Management of wetlands: Case studies Midterm Exam Date: TBD Final Exam Date: As per scheduling. Wetland Ecology (BIOL 4430) Fall 2014
1.3 Lab dates and topics 7 1.3 Lab dates and topics Technician: Susanne E. Walford Office: CB3014A Email: swalford@lakeheadu.ca Teaching Assistant: TBD Labs are Thursday afternoons, although a SATURDAY FIELD TRIP FOR WILD RICE HAR- VESTING is new this year! All field trips are mandatory; dress appropriately (Section 1.6.1.) There are NO lectures field trip days as we leave at 2:30 pm (still assemble in CB3013). We will return to Lakehead University by 6:30 pm. Table 1.1: Laboratory schedule for Fall 2014. Lab Date Description Location Lab 1 Sept. 11 Introduction & Safety CB3013 Lab 2 SAT. SEPT. 13 FIELD TRIP: Wild rice harvesting Whitefish Lake Lab 3 Sept. 18 FIELD TRIP: Inland wetlands Boreal Rd. Lab 4 Sept. 25 FIELD TRIP: Lake Superior wetlands Hurkett Cove Open Lab Oct. 2 Plant mounting and Group project CB3013 Open Lab Oct. 9 Plant mount, ID and Group project CB3013 Lab 5 Oct. 16 ECOTYPES: Meadow marsh, sheltered marsh, exposed marsh, open water marsh Lab 6 Oct. 23 ECOTYPES: Treed fen, open poor fen, open moderately rich fen, open extremely rich fen, shore fen CB3013 CB3013 PLANT TEST 1 Oct. 30 Labs 5, 6 CB3013 Lab 8 Nov. 6 ECOTYPES: Treed bog, open bog CB3013 Lab 9 Nov. 13 ECOTYPES: Poor swamp, intermediate swamp, rich cedar swamp, rich black ash swamp, thick swamp CB3013 PLANT TEST 2 Nov. 20 Labs 8, 9 CB3013 ANNOUNCEMENT Nov. 24 Public notice for project (1 page) CB3013 GROUP PROJECT Due Nov. 27 STUDENT PRESENTATIONS CB3013 PLANT COLLECTION Due Dec. 1 12:30 pm Individual collection CB3027 Fall 2014
8 1 Syllabus 2014 1.3.1 Wild rice harvesting We will depart Lakehead University from the Agora at 9 am and return at approximately 5 pm. Exact times TBD. You will need to bring a lunch and dress for the weather (which can change quickly). Harvesting will be done with First Nation peoples either by canoe and/or airboat. Since this is the first year for this field trip, details are pending. 1.4 Mark breakdown Lecture component Midterm exam: 15% Final exam: 35% Lab component Wetland plant identification tests (two): 15% Wetland plant collection: 15% Wetland group project: 20% 1.5 Suggested review material It is likely some time since first year plant biology. You should review basic botany, including nomenclature, taxonomy and terminology (e.g. parts of a plant). Any first year plant biology textbook will suffice. Botany Illustrated (free if logged into library system) may help: http://www.springerlink.com/content/w3107p/?mud=mp (Glimn-Lacy and Kaufman, 2006) The sections on Names and Terms, Root Types and Modifications, Stem Modifications, Leaf Types and Arrangement and Leaf Modifications would aid in plant identification. Plant families for the plants in the study sets are also of value. 1.6 Safety considerations Students will be given a safety orientation for the biology labs. You must know the location of eye wash stations, safety showers, fire exits, fire pull stations, fire blankets, first aid kits, emergency Wetland Ecology (BIOL 4430) Fall 2014