Willamette Valley Prairie Restoration: The Native Seed Network and Sidalcea

Thesis

Development

My internship was conducted with the Native Seed Network program within the Institute for Applied Ecology, a non-profit organization located in Corvallis, whose focus is education, applied research and active restoration and of native ecosystems. My internship goals were to increase my experience in applied restoration ecology and conservation biology with the emphasis on native plant communities in particular the endangered prairie communities of the Willamette Valley. These goals were met through my tenure with the Native Seed Network’s native seed collection and increase program during the 2007 field season. This work provided me strong experience with a process necessary for genetically conservative restoration and provided the NSN with a willing intern to complete their goals for 2007. Additional work I accomplished included a morphometric analysis of the native Willamette Valley prairie forb Sidalcea campestris which served as one constituent towards resolving the general ambiguity of this focal species for prairie restoration. Included in this analysis is a presentation and my interpretation of an initial molecular phylogenetic analysis on a selection of S. campestris accessions by Liston and deFeniks (unpublished) that may aid in the future resolution of S. campestris and other congeners in the Willamette Valley. The purpose of the morphological research was not mastery of population genetics or statistics but an exercise in concentration and achievement towards a more integrated and advanced application of taxonomic work oriented towards preserving biological diversity. This entire report completes the written requirement for the Professional Science Masters degree in Applied Systematic through the Botany and Plant Pathology Department at Oregon State University.