Monday, January 4, 2010

PostHeaderIcon Bueller, Bueller, Bueller, Bueller....

2:27 PM | Posted by NRES 285/ 499, Fall 2010, UIUC | Edit Post
If Ferris Bueller had classes like this one, he never would have taken a day off! Our trip to southeastern Sonora, Mexico may not be Bill and Ted's excellent adventure either, but it will be awesome dudes and dudettes!

For the record, today is January 4, 2010; it is the 1st day of what is expected to be an informative, interesting, exhausting (at times), entertaining, and hopefully most excellent exploration of tropical deciduous forest. We will work with local residents and scientists from the San Diego Zoo to establish long-term monitoring of palms--an activity necessary for the ultimate sustainable utilization of palms for local use. Local arrangements for our visit to the ecological reserve were capably handled by Stephanie Meyer, the local representative of Nature & Culture International. This combined 285/499 NRES class was taught on-line throughout the fall 2009 semester--many students are meeting each other for the first time today! The semester was spent investigating diverse aspects of the history, culture, and natural resources of the 'Alamos--and the ecology of palms in the Tropical Deciduous Forest (TDF). Now it is time to experience it for ourselves!

Tropical Deciduous Forest Seasons

Our band of intrepid travelers--dare I refer to ourselves as "The Fellowship?"

In these pages, each member of "The Fellowship" will record all those things observed, accomplished, learned, shared, experienced, and wondered about. Perhaps not as personal as a diary, it is important to chronicle our shared journey, record what we see and feel, and most importantly reflect on the experience by asking ourselves: WHAT? SO WHAT? NOW WHAT?

The beginning...could be better. It turns out that our bags cannot be checked all the way to Ciudad Obregon, rather we get them in Phoenix and then check-in again at Phoenix. 'A bit of extra hassle, but we should have enough time!

Stops in Mexico

I'm tired! Up this morning at 3:30 a.m. just to be able to get to the airport in a timely manner. What a fun day this will be, especially meeting many of the students for the first time! --Tony E.
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About the Class

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Alamos, Sonora, Mexico
This course combines pre-trip classroom instruction with field study in the Sierra de Alamos in Southeastern Sonora, Mexico. Its purpose is to introduce both undergraduate and graduate students to biodiversity and conservation of a diverse and significantly threatened ecosystem.

Readings

  • Alvarez-Yepiz, J. C., A. Martinez-Yrizar, et al. (2008). "Variation in vegetation structure and soil properties related to land use history of old-growth and secondary tropical dry forests in northwestern Mexico." Forest Ecology and Management 256(3): 355-366.
  • Anten, N. P. R., M. Martinez-Ramos, et al. (2003). "Defoliation and growth in an understory palm: Quantifying the contributions of compensatory responses." Ecology 84(11): 2905-2918.
  • Dacosta, J. M. and J. Klicka (2008). "The Great American Interchange in birds: a phylogenetic perspective with the genus Trogon." Molecular Ecology 17(5): 1328-1343.
  • Endress, B. A., D. L. Gorchov, et al. (2004). "Harvest of the palm Chamaedorea radicalis, its effects on leaf production, and implications for sustainable management." Conservation Biology 18(3): 822-830.
  • Endress, B. A., D. L. Gorchov, et al. (2004). "Non-timber forest product extraction: Effects of harvest and browsing on an understory palm." Ecological Applications 14(4): 1139-1153.
  • Felger, R. S. and E. Joyal (1999). "The palms (Areacaceae) of Sonora, Mexico." Aliso 18(1): 1-18.
  • Joyal, E. (1996). "The palm has its time: An ethnoecology of Sabal uresana in Sonora, Mexico." Economic Botany 50(4): 446-462.
  • Joyal, E. (1996). "The use of Sabal uresana (Arecaceae) and other palms in Sonora, Mexico." Economic Botany 50(4): 429-445.
  • O' Brien, C., A. D. Flesch, et al. (2006). Biological inventory of the Rio Aros, Sonora, Mexico: A river unknown. C. O'Brien. Tucson, University of Arizona.
  • Rendon-Carmona, H., A. Martinez-Yrizar, et al. (2009). "Selective cutting of woody species in a Mexican tropical dry forest: Incompatibility between use and conservation." Forest Ecology and Management 257(2): 567-579.
  • Ticktin, T. (2004). "The ecological implications of harvesting non-timber forest products." Journal of Applied Ecology 41(1): 11-21.
  • Vasquez-Leon, M. and D. Liverman (2004). "The political ecology of land-use change: Affluent ranchers and destitute farmers in the Mexican municipio of Alamos." Human Organization 63(1): 21-33.

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