Desert Biogeography of Joshua Tree National Park

The course will cover the features which make Joshua Tree National Park unique including the fact that it is at the confluence of two deserts. We will also look at the park in the context of comparative desert biography, including prominent deserts on every continent. Some of the specific issues to be covered include: What is a desert? What is the importance of desert ecosystems? What is their prevalence? What is the geological history of the area? What is the human history of the area? What are some of the key organisms in the Joshua Tree ecosystems? How is Joshua Tree being impacted by climate change? by land development? by species invasion? What is the role of ecotourism in the future of Joshua Tree? And so on. We will spend part of the time at Stanford and part in Joshua Tree. Every day in the park will involve didactic presentations by local experts and by the course director, students presentations, and field trips. There will also be a small research component conducted under the auspices of the park's scientific research director.