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This Fern Identification course includes botany, ecology and identification of ferns in their natural habitats in North Wales.The three days of this course will be spent in the beautiful, rugged landscape of the Snowdonia National Park, looking at Pteridophytes: ferns and their allies, in their natural habitats. Sites you will visit will include upland and lowland, acidic and alkaline habitats, ensuring that you have the opportunity to observe a variety of species from a number of families. Your study will primarily involve the identification of species, but attention will also be given to learning about basic fern ecology and factors that affect their survival.
North Wales contains a diverse range of plant communities and a wide range of habitats as a result of its coastal and mountain sites, complex geology, and varied land use. This results in there being an extremely wide variety of ferns, clubmosses, and horsetails growing in the area! This course will provide you with a firm grounding in the botany and ecology of these fascinating plants. Identification will include dealing with some of the complex apogomous groups such as the Dryopteris affinis aggregates.
Daytime walks will be up to four miles long through stunning rural scenery in and around Snowdonia with spectacular views on clear days. The terrain will be diverse, including some rocky, steep sections, but will be taken at a pace to enable botanical observation. Rain will not prevent the course running, but field days may be curtailed if prevailing weather conditions are unpleasant. Evening identification sessions in the laboratory with fern field guides, specimens, and hand lenses will help to consolidate learning.
What will be covered during this course?
The course will be delivered through a combination of seminars, laboratory identification sessions and practical field work. Field work will involve visiting a range of habitats where the specimens can be identified within an ecological context.
Characteristics of Pteridophytes, and how to distinguish between quillworts, clubmosses, horsetails and true ferns.
Comparative analysis of vegetative and reproductive parts and their use in identification and differentiation between families, genera and species.
Life cycles of Pteridophytes, alternation of generations, and how they differ in their life cycles from other plant groups.
Using a range of dichotomous keys and other resources to identify species.
Understand the importance of the Pteridophytes as indicators of key habitats and ecological niches.
The role of climate, geology and edaphic factors in determining Pteridophyte distribution.
Preparing voucher specimens of Pteridophytes and procedures for validation.
Please refer to our website for further information and to book. Different booking options are available.
https://www.field-studies-council.org/courses-and-experiences/static-courses/fern-identification-mmu/
#Botany #Ecology #Ferns #Plants #NorthWales
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
FSC Rhyd-y-creuau, The Drapers Field Centre,Betws-y-Coed, United Kingdom
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