Abstract Detail

Systematics Section

Bobich , Edward George [1], Ewers, Frank [2].

Resurrecting, Reorganizing, and Refocusing the Cal Poly Pomona Herbarium: Creating an Active Learning Environment While Maintaining a Trading Herbarium in LA County.

The Cal Poly Pomona (California) Herbarium had built an extensive synoptic and teaching collection up until the year 2000, when much of the collection was donated to other local herbaria and the specimens that remained were moved to several different locations on campus. By the late 2000s the fate of the herbarium was uncertain due to a lack of funding, maintenance, and interest. In spring of 2008 it was decided, at the urging of several bright, diligent, and eager students who were taking California Flora (BOT 343) at Cal Poly Pomona, to save the herbarium and refocus the collection on the flora of the San Jose Hills, which are part of the important wildlife corridor that connects the San Gabriel Mountains of the Transverse Ranges to the Santa Ana Mountains of the Peninsular Ranges. Since 2008, nine students have devoted their time to restoring and cataloging the specimens that were collected on the natural lands of the current campus and at the original Voorhis campus in San Dimas, California. The students have also collected new specimens, including five species previously undocumented in the area. The actively trading herbarium (Index Herbariorum acronym CSPU), has 763 specimens representing 244 species. In addition to being an excellent teaching tool where students learn how to do curatorial work, properly collect specimens, and learn about the many uses of herbaria, the herbarium will bring more attention to the need to preserve the natural areas of the San Jose Hills, which have been greatly reduced in the last two decades due to urbanization.

Broader Impacts:

1 - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Biological Sciences, 3801 W. Temple Ave., Pomona, CA, 91768, USA
2 - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Department Of Plant Biology, 3801 West Temple Avenue, Pomona, CA, 91768, USA

Keywords:
Herbarium
California flora
Student learning.

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Sections
Session: P
Location: Khorassan Ballroom/Chase Park Plaza
Date: Monday, July 11th, 2011
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PSY062
Abstract ID:366