SAS 90D - Sec. 001 - (2 units) - CRN 88630 - R 3:10-5:00 pm - 70 Social Sciences
Saving Endangered Plant Species: Problems and Prospects

Instructor: Dan Parfitt, Department of Pomology, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences

Description: Endangered plant species and their importance to society will be examined. Students will discuss societal issues related to plant germplasm conservation, similarities and differences to animal conservation issues, economics of preserving endangered plants, and justification for these activities. Students will learn to distinguish political rhetoric from scientific analysis, explore a current issue of domestic and global importance and develop speaking and writing skills. The seminar will: (1) foster a better understanding of the importance of conservation biology, (2) provide a basis for analyzing and understanding political positions presented in the popular press and elsewhere, (3) introduce students to some of the basic techniques used to preserve important plant species, and (4) enhance students' writing skills.

Format: The seminar will meet once a week for 2 hours. Students will select a current problem to research and discuss. Students and/or the instructor will make a presentation during the first part of class, followed by general discussion and a summary by the instructor. Field trips will be used to demonstrate techniques of plant germplasm preservation and plant diversity. The class will conduct simulations of sampling and population dynamics. Grading: Grading will be based on discussion participation (25%), an oral presentation (25%), a paper (25%) and a final exam (25%).

About the Instructor: Dr. Parfitt is presently a Pomologist in the Department of Pomology at UC Davis with a specialization in pistachio breeding and genetics as well as research related to the broader subject area of plant genetic resource management. He received a BS degree in biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. After a one year break as a research associate at the UW Clinical Cancer Center, he received M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in plant breeding and genetics and went to North Dakota State University for a two year postdoctoral assignment breeding sunflowers for resistance to bird attack. In 1981, Dr. Parfitt joined the Pomology Department faculty at UCD as curator of the National Clonal Germplasm Repository for Fruit and Nut Crops. In 1989 Dr. Parfitt began a pistachio breeding and genetics program. In addition, Dr. Parfitt also studies variation in and molecular systematics of tree crop species.