While many people living in Tucson and its surroundings are experienced outdoor aficionados, many lack an understanding of our near neighbors--those plants and animals that live close to us in our urban environment. Certainly we can choose to ignore the flora and fauna of our desert community and function reasonably well. Our lives are enriched, however, if we take the time to develop a better understanding of our companion species. Developing this awareness/knowledge ?is the goal of this course. Using ecology, the scientific analysis and study of interactions among organisms and their environment, we will also explore how these species interrelate. Lectures will explain some basic biological principles, how deserts are defined, how our deserts align themselves, and how biological organisms connect. Finally, students will get a sampling of information about the major types of flora and fauna that live near us.