Botany 575 – Desert Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Tom Givnish and Kate McCulloh • Spring 2016, field trip March 19-27
Deserts are extreme environments that support an unexpected diversity of plant species
and adaptations. An historic opportunity to study speciation, community ecology, and
photosynthetic and hydraulic adaptations in desert plants, especially winter annuals, is
likely this year due to a massive El Niño. We therefore plan to visit a wide range of
desert habitats in southern California this spring, conducting research there during a 8day field trip from March 19th to 27th. This experience will be complemented by an
introductory set of lectures and planning sessions before we leave, and by lab work,
analyses, and writing and submitting papers for publication after we return.
This course is open to undergrads and grad students. We will meet 1:00 – 2:15 pm on
Wednesdays. Those involved in the speciation/population genetics project will spend
additional time in the lab after the field trip, extracting DNA and readying it for nextgeneration sequencing. Everyone will be involved in data analysis and write-up. We
estimate costs ca. $600/student, including roughly half the airfare and camping fees,
and all food. A generous gift by an anonymous donor to the Department of Botany has
made this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity possible, contributing to air and land
transportation costs, as well as supplies. The course should be highly educational AND
fun! All students will need to be in good physical condition and register for Botany 575
for Spring 2016.
We expect substantial interest in this course, and will almost surely have to restrict
enrollment (we have funds for approximately 24 students). This course is being
recommended as a (voluntary) lab for Botany 802 (Plant Physiological Ecology), to be
offered by Kate McCulloh this spring. This course can also satisfy category C (ecology)
for Biology majors, as a lab course or a CALS capstone course. To be considered for the
course, please answer the questions below and email the form to givnish@wisc.edu and
kmcculloh@wisc.edu.
Thanks!
Name _________________________________ Email ________________________________
Age as of March 19____________
Major _________________________
Year of undergraduate or graduate study _______
Current GPA __________
What courses in ecology, plant physiology, and evolutionary ecology have you taken,
and what grades did you receive? Please attach your current transcript.
1
Briefly describe your hiking and camping experience.
What’s the longest walk you’ve taken in the past six months? Do you engage in any
sports, either as a hobby or as part of intramural or varsity competitions?
Briefly describe how taking this course could advance your academic or career goals.
Briefly describe your interests in desert ecology, speciation, population genetics,
photosynthetic and hydraulic plant adaptations, and community ecology (we know that
very few people will be interested in ALL of these topics!!)
2
Are you planning on enrolling in Botany 802 (Plant Physiological Ecology)?
3