We are setting up a system to inventory all campus trees at UW
Oshkosh and I am curious if other campuses have undertaken a similar
project and how yours turned out. We estimate there are 1200-1500
trees to consider. We'll worry about smaller, "non-tree" permanent
plantings (holly, dogwood, sumac) next year.
Basically, our plan is to:
1. determine coordinates of every individual tree using a hand-held GPS
device
2. collect material from each species (but probably not every
individual), dry, mount, identify and archive in our herbarium
3. number each accession with a three series number such as x.y.z
where x = genus, y = species and z = particular individual. The x
(genus) number could also be organized such that 000-099 is reserved
for pines, 100-199 = spruces, 200-299 = oaks, etc.....
4. generate a web-based, interactive CADD based map so that clicking
on one Quercus rubra, for instance, would highlight all of the other
red oaks on campus.
Our intended audiences are the Chancellor (in sup****t of a
multifaceted Campus Sustainability plan that includes recycling,
energy conservation, biodiversity, etc.), the Facilities and Grounds
department (who would like to know what trees we have, which ones we
can afford to lose and which new ones to plant), the Biology
department (in sup****t of our botany curriculum) and the Science
Outreach Office (for the development of such tools as a campus tree
guide and study guides for local community K-12 outreach sessions).
Various inventories and incomplete maps have been generated for UWO
since at least the 1940's, but now it is time to focus our resources
and make a comprehensive study.
We recently secured money to hire a summer intern and hope to get
started locating trees in a week or two, hence our interest in
designing an inventory system that will be easy to use and yet serve
everyone's needs.
I can't help but think that other campuses have done a similar
inventory. Please send me your good ideas.
Bob
--
Robert R. Wise
Dept. of Biology
UW Oshkosh
800 Algoma Blvd
Oshkosh, WI 54901
(920) 424-3404 (tel)
(920) 424-1101 (fax)
Have a look at The Structure and Function of Plastids at
http://www.life.uiuc.edu/govindjee/newbook/Vol%2023.html
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