Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, I remember ferns being everywhere. At one point I was quite fascinated with them. I have to admit I didn't read every detail, but I love the fact that this post exists.
Wonderful. Ferns were very much part of my childhood on the farm in Devon. It's fascinating to read more abou them and lovely to see these beautiful photos. I also like the fact that taxonomists are still arguing about them. Good to think the ferns are keeping them guessing!
Good question! I have a PhD in plant ecology and evolution, which is a pretty general category. My PhD research itself was not really a specialized aspect of botany; I was studying how mountains influence the evolution of plant diversity (albeit based on a specific group of plants in New Zealand), and now I study the general plant diversity of the Alps and how climate change and land use change might impact it. I took a few botany classes in my undergraduate degree (the subject of which was Conservation Biology), but I was more focused on general principles of plant ecology and evolution there too. So my specific botanical knowledge is sort of picked up as I go along!
Thank you Anne. So now you continue your research for an organization in France/Switzerland? I ask just out of interest, being in my mid seventies now, with an ongoing interest in climate change. A few years ago, we travelled to Europe with a student passenger who was heading to the far north of Norway to study ice. It is super work that you do!
Love learning from you, Anne!
Hooray! Thanks for reading!
Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, I remember ferns being everywhere. At one point I was quite fascinated with them. I have to admit I didn't read every detail, but I love the fact that this post exists.
Ferns are such a big part of the PNW vibe in my mind! It would be fun to learn how to identify the ferns there.
Wonderful. Ferns were very much part of my childhood on the farm in Devon. It's fascinating to read more abou them and lovely to see these beautiful photos. I also like the fact that taxonomists are still arguing about them. Good to think the ferns are keeping them guessing!
So glad you enjoyed it Jeffrey! And that’s a good way to look at taxonomic discord, haha
Thank you for these incredibly in depth (I learn so much!) essays Anne! 🙏🏽
I love to hear that Susie! Thanks for reading!
Anne, I am curious to know what the title of your degree is/will be - if you don’t mind. Will it be a specialized aspect of botany….?
Good question! I have a PhD in plant ecology and evolution, which is a pretty general category. My PhD research itself was not really a specialized aspect of botany; I was studying how mountains influence the evolution of plant diversity (albeit based on a specific group of plants in New Zealand), and now I study the general plant diversity of the Alps and how climate change and land use change might impact it. I took a few botany classes in my undergraduate degree (the subject of which was Conservation Biology), but I was more focused on general principles of plant ecology and evolution there too. So my specific botanical knowledge is sort of picked up as I go along!
Thank you Anne. So now you continue your research for an organization in France/Switzerland? I ask just out of interest, being in my mid seventies now, with an ongoing interest in climate change. A few years ago, we travelled to Europe with a student passenger who was heading to the far north of Norway to study ice. It is super work that you do!
Thank you Catherine, I appreciate your interest! Yes, I'm currently a postdoc at the Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine in Grenoble, France.
Thank you for sharing these detailed lessons!
My absolute pleasure!