Indicator Plants, Relationships and Habitats - beginners

Summary

This one day course delivered as two online sessions across two days will cover recognition of plant species as indicators of underlying environmental conditions, such as wet or dry indicators or indicators of enriched soils. It will also explore the many complex relationships that exist between plants, soil bacteria and fungi. As part of this, we will also look at the laws and legislation surrounding protected and/or invasive non-native plant species and how biosecurity measures are vital to prevent spread of pathogens and plant fragments between sites. This is relevant to land managers, ecologists, conservation professionals or volunteers, or to anyone who wants to gain a better understanding of indicator plants, environmental conditions, habitats and relationships.

Description

Key areas to be covered are recognition of indicator plants, identification of different habitat types and understanding the relationships that exist between plants and fungi. Participants will learn how to identify habitat types and indicator plants and understand the role of botany within the ecosystem. Some plants will only grow in specific habitats, such as acid or basic soils, or within wet or dry conditions. We will explore different habitat types, such as calcareous limestone, acid heathland, moorland and bogs, neutral grassland, woodland and the marine environment. We will cover different indicator plants – e.g. plants that indicate soil or habitat conditions. We will explore Ellenberg Indicator Values and how these help to give an overall view of what each plant species needs in which to grow best. We will look at how plants grow and how they reproduce. We will cover mycorrhizal fungi and symbiotic relationships between plant species and their importance for biodiversity and also phytoremediation (of heavy metals and over-enrichment).

Participants will also gain an understanding of the laws surrounding protected species and invasive plants. As part of this, we will also cover transfer of invasive species between sites (particularly aquatic species) and the importance of checking and cleaning equipment, including footwear, clothing for fragments.

This training is relevant to ecologists, conservation managers and biodiversity officers to understand the complex relationships and connections that exist within botany and to identify plants for their remedial potential. This course is suitable for beginners and will help professional ecologists or those just starting out to understand how plants grow, the specific habitats and conditions some plant species require and to recognise ‘indicator plant species’.

Who Should Attend?

land managers, local authority ecologists, conservation officers and licensing staff within SNCOs or NGOs, students, graduates, ecological consultants, environmental managers, wardens, ranger

Knowledge Level

Beginner

Prior Knowledge

No Prior knowledge required

Learning Outcomes

• Identify biodiverse habitats.
• Understand relationships and symbiosis.
• Recognise and identify habitat types, environmental conditions and indicator plants.
• Understand soil nutrients and effect on species richness.
• Make assessment of species status (native/non-native and/or invasive/protected).
• Use safe, biosecure and legal species handling techniques.
• Recognise areas for development and seeking opportunities to develop knowledge, understanding and skills.

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