Boyd Deep Canyon lecture series
UCR Boyd Deep Canyon Lecture Series 2012-13
Discussions about the world around us
Facilitated by Dr. Allan Muth, director, Boyd Deep Canyon Research Center, University of California, Riverside, in partnership with UCR Palm Desert and The Living Desert. Lectures are free and open to the public.
Previous lectures of the 2012-13 academic year:
Nov. 8, 2012 -- Alien Nation: California's Invasive Species Problems
Every year California acquires on average 8 to 10 exotic terrestrial invertebrate species that establish reproducing populations. Dr. Mark Hoddle, director of the Center for Invasive Species Research at the University of California, Riverside, will tell us more about invaders like the red palm weevil and what they want.
Dec. 13, 2012 -- The Impact of Introduced Ants on Diet and Habitat Use in the Coastal Horned Lizard
Coastal horned lizard populations have declined in southern California primarily due to habitat loss. Dr. Andrew Suarez of the University of Illinois departments of Entomology and Animal Biology will review research on horned lizard diet and habitat selection, and discuss the determinants of their abundance throughout southern California.
Jan. 10, 2013 -- The "Wicked" Conservation Problem and How It Relates to the Desert Tortoise
What happens when the listing, protection and recovery of an endangered species collides with capitalist accumulation in a democratic society? Dr. Emily Thorn from Colorado State University's Department of Sociology will discuss the political and economic landscape that surrounds the complex issue of conservation, specifically using the Mojave Desert Tortoise as an example.
Feb. 13, 2013 -- Foraging, Ecology and Niche Structure in Desert Small Mammals – Or, How Do So Many Mice Coexist in Our Deserts?
The sheer diversity of species in the desert has intrigued scientists for many years. Extensive research with small mammals in Israel has documented how different species of gerbil coexist. Dr. Doug Kelt of the department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology at University of California, Davis, will show how this relates to the fauna at Deep Canyon, where as many as 5 species of pocket mice are known to coexist.
The University of California has been active in the Coachella Valley for nearly 100 years, initially supporting the agriculture industry and more recently impacting modern growth issues through research in areas such as transportation, air quality, and energy and water conservation. The UCR Palm Desert Center, established in 2005, provides graduate education to the Coachella Valley through its innovative Executive MBA and MFA degrees.