Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation of Pollination

Judith Bronstein
Fall 2023
Fridays |  
10AM - 12PM
September 29, October 6, 13, 20, and 27, 2023
Course Format: Hybrid
Location: Main Campus
Tuition: $165

All organisms reproduce – among them, plants reproduce in the most diverse ways. In some plant species, all individuals are the same sex; some have two sexes, and others have three or even four sexes. Reproduction occurs via flowers ranging from the size of a pinhead to that of a toddler. Some plants make flowers, then fertilize only themselves. Most, however, require pollen to be moved between flowers, a feat accomplished by wind, water, and animals, including insects, fish, birds, and mammals. Studies of pollination reveal how species interactions weave together entire ecosystems. However, human-caused environmental change is threatening pollination, leading to impacts ranging from biodiversity loss to the loss of our own food supply. We will explore the weird and wonderful world of pollination across the globe (with a particular focus on deserts) and across time, from its earliest origins to its increasingly fragile future.

Meet Your Instructor

University Distinguished Professor

JUDITH BRONSTEIN is a University Distinguished Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Her research focuses on the biology of mutualism, or mutually beneficial interactions between species. She has studied the ecology and conservation of pollination in habitats ranging from North American deserts to Central American cloud forests, as well as through mathematical modeling.

Location

POETRY CENTER
Dorothy Rubel Room
1508 E Helen
Tucson, AZ 85721
United States

Located on the SE corner of Helen Street and Vine Avenue, one block north of Speedway and three blocks west of Campbell Ave.

Street map image of Poetry Center

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