No. 115 October 15, 1995

CLASSIFICATION AND INVENTORY OF THE WORLD'S WETLANDS

The latest issue of Vegetatio (1995, Vol. 118:1-192), edited by C.M. Finlayson and A.G. van der Valk, contains the proceedings of a symposium 'Classification and inventory of the world's wetlands' held at the IV International Wetlands Conference in Columbus, Ohio, USA, in 1992. Wetland and peatland classification systems and the status of wetland inventories are discussed in fourteen articles:

Scott, D.A. & Jones, T.A.: Classification and inventory of wetlands: A global overview.

There is a need for a simple global classification system. It is suggested that the Ramsar classification system should be adopted generally for international purposes.

Hughes, J.M.R.: The current status of European wetland inventories and classifications.

The status of European wetland inventories is summarized for 44 countries. The total area of designated Ramsar wetlands in Europe in 1994 was 7.4 Mha.

Pakarinen, P.: Classification of boreal mires in Finland and Scandinavia: A review.

The paper reviews the development of peatland classifications in Fennoscandia (Finland, Sweden, Norway), with a discussion on circumboreal classification and corresponding vegetation types in Canada.

Gopal, B. & Sah, M.: Inventory and classification of wetlands in India.

We propose a hierarchical classification of wetlands based on their location, salinity, physiognomy, duration of flooding and the growth forms of the dominant vegetation.

Lu, J.: Ecological significance and classification of Chinese wetlands.

Natural wetlands are classified into three main groups: coastal and estuarine wetlands, riverine and lacustrine wetlands, and peat bogs. Artificial wetlands include four pes: paddy fields, aquatic culture ponds, water storage reservoirs, and salt pans. The total extent of wetlands in each province has been estimated.

Taylor, A.R.D., Howard, G.W. & Begg, G.W.: Developing wetland inventories in Southern Africa: A review.

The status of wetland inventories and availability of data sources is reviewed for the ten countries of southern Africa.

Pressey, R.L. & Adam, P.: A review of wetland inventory and classification in Australia.

Past and current approaches in Australia are reviewed, and the issue of a global classification scheme is discussed.

Semeniuk, C.A. & Semeniuk, V.: A geomorphic approach to global classification for inland wetlands.

A geomorphic classification on criteria other than vegetation is proposed, based on their host landform and degree of wetness.

Naranjo, L.G.: An evaluation of the first inventory of South American wetlands.

The paper evaluates the reliability of the South American wetlands inventory and its impact on wetland conservation in South America during the last six years.

Zoltai, S.C. & Vitt, D.H.: Canadian wetlands: Environmental gradients and classification.

For peatlands, the primary division should be acidic Sphagnum- dominated bogs and poor fens on one hand and brown moss- dominated rich fens on the other. Non peat-forming wetlands lack the well-developed bryophyte ground layer of fens and bogs.

Cowardin, L.M. & Golet, F.C.: US Fish and Wildlife Service 1979 wetland classification: A review.

We review the performance of the classification after 13 years of use. The classification structure consists of five hierarchic levels. The principal problem areas are discussed (definition of wetland, definition of classification taxa, lack of basic ecological data, limitations of remote sensing).

Wilen, B.O. & Bates, M.K.: The US Fish and Wildlife Service's National Wetlands Inventory Project.

The current status of the National Wetland Inventory in the conterminous US and Alaska is described, with information also of the availability of inventory products (list of hydric soils, list of wetland plant species, map reports and bibliographic listings).

Novitzki, R.P.: EMAP-Wetlands: A sampling design with global application.

The wetland component of the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is designed to provide quantitative assessments of the current status and long-term trends in the ecological condition of wetland resources.

Finlayson, C.M. & van der Valk, A.G.: Wetland classification and inventory: A summary.

An international committee under the auspices of an international agency (e.g. IWRB, Ramsar Bureau, IUCN) needs to be established to develop a classification system and guidelines for carrying out a complete inventory of the world's wetlands.

FUNGAL GALLS ON MENZIESIA - A UNIQUE REPORT OF MYCOPHAGY

Compton, Brian D. 1995. "Ghost's ears" (Exobasidium sp. affin. vaccinii) and fool's huckleberries (Menziesia ferruginea Smith): a unique report of mycophagy on the central and north coasts of British Columbia. Journal of Ethnobiology 15(1):89-98.

Exobasidium spores may infect the leaves, stems, and flowers of fool's huckleberry or false azalea, resulting in organ deformation and hypertrophic growth that accompanies fungal development. Eventually the fungus sporulates on the surface of mycocecidia (fungal galls) that range from 1-2 cm in size and are somewhat berry-like (i.e., globular, somewhat sweet, and crisp). The mycocecidium produces a whitish bloom when sporulating, but the immature structure may be pale rose to purplish.

The cultural roles of mycocecidia (fungal galls) of the fungus Exobasidium sp. affin. vaccinii on Menziesia ferruginea Smith (false azalea, or fool's huckleberry) among various Pacific northwest coast cultures are identified and discussed. As many as nine distinct coastal groups named and ate these mycocecidia. These galls were occasionally eaten fresh when they were found but there is no evidence that they were gathered or prepared in any way. Among at least three coastal groups, the Henaaksiala, Heiltsuk, and Tsimshian, the mycocecidia had mythological importance.

SPECIMEN EXCHANGE

We are working on establishing a small herbarium in northwest Montana and are interested in the possibilities of exchanging specimens with other herbaria for the purpose of stocking our collection of Carex, Vaccinium and other genera. We have miscel- laneous material collected in northwest Montana, including vascular plants, lichens and bryophytes (quite a few of the latter, in fact).

We are particularly interested in material from other parts of Montana, as well as Idaho, Washington, British Columbia and Alberta. If anyone is interested in exchanging material, please let me know. Unfortunately, we are not yet listed in the Index Herbariorum, but intend to do so soon.