Introduction to Bryophytes
by Ben Carter
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Saturday Feb 1 & Sunday Feb 2, 2025
9:00am- 4:30pm
*** Register Online Here ***
Workshop Flier
With around 800 species in California, the bryophytes (mosses, liverworts and hornworts) are a fascinating, diverse and ecologically important part of our native flora. Working with bryophytes requires microscopy and so can feel intimidating, but getting to know these plants will add a new depth and appreciation to what you know about California’s amazing plant life. The aim of this two-day workshop is to give participants the basic tools they will need to continue learning and enjoying the local bryophytes on their own.
The workshop will include lectures, a field trip and plenty of hands-on microscope work to help you learn features important for bryophyte identification. The workshop will begin with an introductory lecture on bryophyte basics and on the important morphological and life-history differences among the three groups of bryophytes: mosses, liverworts and hornworts. The afternoon will be spent on a fieldtrip to Bidwell Park learning techniques for identifying bryophytes in the field and developing an understanding for where to look to find ecologically different species. The second day will be spent in lab working with bryophytes under the microscope. The first half of the day will be spent learning the bryophyte specific terminology necessary for identifying specimens to genus and species. The afternoon will focus on using the Norris & Shevock keys to the mosses of California and the Doyle & Stotler keys to the liverworts and hornworts of California.
Ben Carter is a Senior Environmental Scientist in the Bishop office of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. He studied mosses for his PhD at UC Berkeley and has spent most of his career studying the ecology, biogeography and floristics of California mosses.
Participants should bring any of the following items as they have on hand: hand lens, fine-point forceps, dissection needles, microscope slides and cover slips, single-edged razor blades, and either a copy of the Norris and Shevock and the Doyle and Stotler keys or a laptop/tablet on which to view pdfs (instructor will provide pdfs of the keys for participants without hard copies).
Other helpful but optional books are “California Mosses” by Malcolm, Malcolm, Shevock & Norris (2009), “Mosses and Other Bryophytes, an Illustrated Glossary” by Malcolm & Malcolm (2006), and “Moss Flora of the Pacific Northwest” by Elva Lawton (1971).
For more information about workshop content, please contact Ben Carter at benjamin.carter@wildlife.ca.gov.
WORKSHOP DETAILS
Dates: Saturday Feb 1 & Sunday Feb 2, 2025
Times: 9:00am- 4:30pm
Location: The Ahart Herbarium at California State University, Chico with the field portion at nearby Bidwell Park (Field portion, attendees are responsible for their own transportation, carpool if possible.)
Fee Structure:
$240.00 - Business (Fee paid by employer/organization)
$220.00 - Personal
$180.00 - 2025 Member of the Friends of the Herbarium
$110.00 - Student (only 2 seats at this price with proof of current student enrollment)
Register: Click this link https://forms.gle/26CPovoKctMTStSB6
or copy and paste this link into your internet browser to complete the online registration form
Please register in advance
Size is limited to 16 participants, without minimum of 8 enrolled by 1/16/26, event is cancelled
Payment by credit card (preferred) is NOT automatic. After registration review, a secure online payment link is manually generated. Payee will receive email from "Clover" with payment link within 3 business days of registration submission.
If you need additional assistance with workshop registration, please contact Sandra Scholten at sscholten@csuchico.edu or at the Biology office (530)898-5356.
You will receive more information on workshop logistics closer to the date of the workshop!
https://friendsoftheahartherbarium.org/workshops-and-events