BIOL 5455 - Desert Field Ecology

Introduction to desert ecology with emphasis on the four major desert ecosystems of North America (Great Basin, Mojave, Sonoran, and Chihuahuan). Includes a 9 day trip to SE Arizona during the semester break. Subtopics include meteorology, geology, geography, botany, and zoology/entomology, with emphasis on birds and plants. Emphasizes the generation of testable hypotheses under field conditions and data analysis and presentation. Individual journal and field notebooks are required, as well as a group project with oral and written presentations.