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Botany and Range Science |
BOTANY AND RANGE SCIENCE
Chair: Bruce A. Roundy
Graduate Coordinator: Rex G. Cates
425 WIDB
Provo, UT 84602-5181
(801) 378-4281
THE PROGRAM OF STUDIES
Plants play a crucial role in the maintenance of life on this planet. Graduate students in the Department of Botany and Range Science pursue research in the general areas of plant classification (primarily seed plants, algae, and lichens), genetics (molecular emphasis), physiology, ecology, wildlife biology, biological education, and wildland management. Directed by a faculty of seventeen, graduate programs are focused on the biota of the Intermountain West. Students are expected to become familiar with modern theory, tools, and procedures to understand, manage, and conserve the earth's natural resources.
Because BYU is situated near the interfacing of several major biotic provinces and in a region of complex geology and topography, graduate students are surrounded by great biotic richness and ecological diversity. In addition to ready access to a rich variety of natural environments, graduate research is supported by modern laboratory facilities for molecular, ultrastructure, physiological, and genetic studies; an excellent library; controlled environment growth-chambers; a large and well-curated herbarium; and access to well-equipped field stations in the Great Basin Desert, mixed conifer montane forest, sagebrush-grass steppe, and northern Mojave Desert of southwestern Utah. The Shrub Sciences Laboratory of the Intermountain Research Station, U.S. Forest Service, which is located on campus, also strengthens graduate work in the department.
The Department of Botany and Range Sciences offers six degrees: Biological Science Education—MS, Botany—MS, Range Science—MS, Wildlife and Range Resources—MS, Botany—PhD, and Wildlife and Range Resources—PhD. The department also offers two interdepartmental programs: Molecular Biology—MS and Molecular Biology—PhD.
Areas of specialization within the MS degrees: Biological Science Education, Biotechnology, Botany, Conservation Biology, Genetics, Natural Resource Development, Range Science, Wildlife and Range Resources. PhD specializations: Biotechnology, Botany, Genetics, Wildlife and Range Resources.
An average of about forty graduate students pursue degrees in botany and range science at any one time. The ratio of master to PhD students is usually near four to one. Students in master's degree programs graduate in twelve to twenty-four months. PhD students are expected to graduate within thirty-six months after first enrollment. Students involved in field research are advised to commence graduate programs spring term, since much of the necessary research can be completed prior to commencing formal course work fall semester. Such students must coordinate plans carefully with their graduate committee.
Biological Science Education, Botany, Molecular Biology, Range Science, Wildlife and Range Resources—MS
The biological sciences education degree is designed to prepare students with advanced skills and knowledge for teaching in high schools and colleges. Students opting for this degree may pursue original research or library synthesis projects and present results in either formal thesis or project format. Students selecting programs in botany, molecular biology, range science, or wildlife and range resources will pursue original research topics and present a formal thesis. Since all research for these degrees is expected to be of publication quality, theses are usually prepared in a form suitable for immediate submission for review by an appropriate scholarly journal.
Admission and Entry.
Biological Science Education or Botany Program Applicants: baccalaureate degree in botany or equivalent.
Molecular Biology Program Applicants: the molecular biology program is a multidepartmental program in the College of Biology and Agriculture. Refer to the Molecular Biology section of this catalog for a program description. Students should apply to the molecular biology program in the college and designate botany as the study specialization. A baccalaureate degree in molecular biology or biological or physical science is required. (This would include one year of general university physics, mathematics equivalent to Math 113, one year of organic chemistry with laboratory, and one year of cell biology and genetics equivalent to Botny-Mcbio-Zool 341 and 342.)
Range Science or Wildlife and Range Resources Program Applicants: baccalaureate degree in range, wildlife, or equivalent.
Requirements for Degree.
Botany, Molecular Biology, Wildlife and Range Resources—PhD
Candidates for the PhD may choose research topics in botany, plant genetics or aspects of plant physiology or biotechnology problems. Those seeking the PhD in wildlife and range resources may select research topics in plant or wildlife ecology, ecological physiology, restoration ecology in semiarid environments, secondary plant product-herbivore interactions, or plant systematics. All programs emphasize application of theory to practical problems.
Admission and Entry.
Requirements for Degree.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Financial assistance is available for these programs through the Department of Botany and Range Science. Other financial aid is available through the university. Financial assistance is available for superior students in the form of teaching assistantships, research assistantships, internships, and competitive scholarships. Contact graduate coordinator for specific information concerning possibilities for support.
RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES
BYU Agriculture Station. The station encompasses several sites, all of which support research in basic and applied agriculture. At these facilities, research can be conducted on agriculture crops, shrubs and trees, rangeland forages, and plant interactions with domestic animals.
Ezra Taft Benson Agricultural and Food Institute. The major objective of the Ezra Taft Benson Agriculture and Food Institute is to raise the quality of life among the people of the world through improved nutrition and enlightened agricultural practices. Research to improve agricultural practices, family nutrition, and appropriate technology is encouraged.
M. L. Bean Life Science Museum. Extensive biological and zoological collections are housed in the M. L. Bean Life Science Museum. The exhibits include habitat studies of local as well as exotic plant and animal species and a large and valuable collection of trophies from North America, Africa, and Asia.
Electron Optics Laboratory. In this lab researchers can accomplish all standard electron optics procedures. The laboratory has transmission and scanning electron microscopes equipped with X-ray microanalysis capabilities, plus accessory equipment for freeze-fracture, freeze-drying, and necessary support facilities, including confocal laser scan microscopy.
USDA Forest Service Shrub Science Laboratory. Housed on the BYU campus, this lab supports one of the finest research programs on native shrubs in the world. Here eleven PhD research scientists with adjunct faculty appointments work with BYU faculty members and graduate students. Laboratories, greenhouses, and gardens on campus and around the state support studies on desert shrubs.
Lytle Ranch Preserve. Graduate students are able to do year-round on-site research on desert plants and animals at the Lytle Ranch. This large preserve is located in the moderate desert climate of southwestern Utah.
On the Provo campus are greenhouses, gardens, an arboretum, a small animal vivarium, and a tissue culture room. Laboratory facilities include gas chromatography-mass spectrometers, isotope ratio mass spectrometers, transmission and scanning electron microscopes, ultra centrifuges, visible ultraviolet and infrared spectrophotometers, gas chromatographs, high-performance liquid chromatographs, infrared gas analyzers, atomic absorption spectroscopy, and many other items.
Faculty and graduate students are currently engaged in a number of significant and interesting research projects, funded both externally and internally. Some of these are: iron uptake by plants; shrub genetics, ecology, and physiology; biochemical ecology; photosynthetic rate and water-use efficiency in plants; plant growth regulators; forage research; molecular biology of gene expression in mitochondria; marine and freshwater biology, sexual differentiation of the brain; biological science education; effect of nutrient intake on gene expression; environmental science; structural plant science; plant reproductive biology; conservation of rare species.
For a more detailed description of the graduate program requirements, send for a copy of the department's bulletin.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
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500. (Botny-Range) Chemical and Physiological Ecology. (3)
Prerequisite: Biol 130, Botny 350 (or equivalents), or instructor's consent.
Secondary metabolites and their role in population, community, and ecosystem phenomena.
507. International Issues in Conservation Biology. (3)
International environmental problems, examining major degradational threats and options for preservation. Environmental, political, and social costs and benefits of development in underdeveloped countries.
510. Advanced Taxonomy. (3)
Prerequisite: Botny 210 or instructor's consent.
Review of taxonomic literature and research methods. One three-day field trip arranged.
515. (Botny-Range) Agrostology: Taxonomy and Ecology of Grasses. (3)
Prerequisite: Botny 210.
Classification and ecology of grasses, emphasizing important forage species.
520. Ethnobotany. (3)
Prerequisite: Botny 120.
Use of plants by diverse human cultures. Integration of current anthropological and botanical literature, emphasizing ethnotaxonomies, survival strategies, and ethnomedicine.
521. Ethnobotany Practicum. (1-5)
Prerequisite: Botny 520.
Ethnobotanical research. May require field trip outside continental U.S. Emphasizes participant observation, interviewing techniques, documentary video and film, botanical collecting techniques, and chemical extraction.
522. Biological Instrumentation. (2)
Prerequisite: graduate status or instructor's consent.
Theory and application of research instruments to biological problems.
523. Biological Instrumentation Laboratory. (2)
Prerequisite: Botny 522 or concurrent registration.
Operating research instruments.
526. (Botny-Zool) Cell Biology. (3)
Prerequisite: introductory course in biochemistry.
Molecular physiology and ultrastructure of cells, emphasizing eukaryotic organisms.
527. (Botny-Range) Wildland Shrubs. (3)
Taxonomy and ecology of wildland shrubs. Field trip required.
530. Scanning Electron Optics. (3)
Prerequisite: instructor's consent.
Scanning electron microscopy of biological, physical science, and engineering samples, emphasizing practical applications.
531. Transmission Electron Optics. (3)
Prerequisite: instructor's consent.
Transmission electron microscopy of biological, physical science, and engineering samples, emphasizing practical applications.
534. Lichenology. (3)
Detailed study of lichens, including classification, morphology, and ecology. Field trip required.
539. Paleobotany. (3)
Prerequisite: Botny 105, Geol 103.
Morphology and relationships of fossil plants.
540R. Advanced Topics in Plant Physiology. (3)
Prerequisite: Botny 440 or instructor's consent.
550. Plant Geography. (3)
Distribution of plant species and communities in light of present and past climates.
551. (Botny-Range) Quantitative Ecology. (3)
Prerequisite: Botny-Zool 350 or equivalent, Stat 221, 222, or 501.
Methods of community analysis.
552. (Botny-Range) Terrestrial and Rangeland Ecosystems. (4)
Prerequisite: Botny-Zool 350 or equivalent, Stat 221, 222, or 501.
Biotic communities of the earth; population dynamics; reproductive, life-form, and longevity patterns; species interactions; structure, dynamics, and evolution of communities.
554. Population and Conservation Biology. (3)
Prerequisite: Botny-Zool 350 or equivalent.
Analysis of populations in natural settings; theoretical and practical strategies for conservation of endangered biota and preservation of biodiversity.
559. (Botny-AgHrt) Advanced Plant Breeding and Biotechnology. (3)
Prerequisite: AgHrt-Botny 485; Botny 341; or equivalent.
Genetics and methods of plant breeding and biotechnology related to improving agronomic and horticultural crops.
573. (Botny-AgHrt) Plant Cytogenetics. (3)
Prerequisite: Botny 341, 342, 343; AgHrt-Botny 559; or equivalent.
Plant chromosome morphology and structure, polyploidy, aneuploidy, replication and endoreduplication, classical and molecular cytogenetic analytical methods, chromosome evolution, and chromosome engineering.
574. (Botny-AnSc) Introduction to Population Genetics. (3)
Prerequisite: introductory courses in genetics and statistics.
Quantitative study of factors influencing changes in gene frequencies in natural and domestic animal and plant populations.
610. Botanical Terminology and Nomenclature. (2)
Prerequisite: instructor's consent.
Botanical terminology, including the contributions of Latin and Greek words, their gender, number, and case.
630. Angiosperm Morphology. (4)
Prerequisite: familiarity with taxonomy, anatomy, and physiology or biochemistry.
Structures, relationships, and evolution of flowering plants.
650R. Advanced Plant Ecology. (2)
Current trends in ecological research and philosophy.
678. Organic Evolution. (3)
Prerequisite: introductory course in genetics or instructor's consent.
691R. Graduate Seminar. (1)
697R. GIS Applications to Natural Resource Management. (2)
Introduction to SPANS GIS for natural resource management. Includes data input, conversion, modeling, analysis, display, and output. For those doing research involving geographically spaced data.
698R. Master's Project. (1-6)
699R. Master's Thesis. (1-9)
799R. Doctoral Dissertation. (1-9)
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500. (Range-Botny) Chemical and Physiological Ecology. (3)
Prerequisite: Biol 130, Range 354 (or equivalents), or instructor's consent.
Secondary metabolites and their role in population, community, and ecosystem phenomena.
505. Wildlife Law Enforcement. (3)
Prerequisite: Biol 130 or equivalent.
Current and historical principles of federal and state wildlife law enforcement, case development, evidence, evaluation, human rights, and testimony.
515. (Range-Botny) Agrostology: Taxonomy and Ecology of Grasses. (3)
Prerequisite: Botny 210.
Classification and ecology of grasses, emphasizing important forage species.
527. (Range-Botny) Wildland Shrubs. (3)
Taxonomy and ecology of wildland shrubs. Field trip required.
551. (Range-Botny) Quantitative Ecology. (3)
Prerequisite: Range 354 or equivalent; Stat 221, 222, or 501.
Methods of community analysis.
552. (Range-Botny) Terrestrial and Rangeland Ecosystems. (4)
Prerequisite: Range 354 or equivalent; Stat 221, 222, or 501.
Biotic communities of the earth; population dynamics; reproductive, life-form, and longevity patterns; species interactions; structure, dynamics, and evolution of communities.
561. Watershed Management. (3)
Prerequisite: Range 354 or equivalent.
Water-producing characteristics of forest and rangelands, emphasizing laboratory and field studies of soil and vegetation.
565. Wildlife Behavioral Ecology. (3)
Prerequisite: Biol 130, Range 354 (or equivalents).
Integration of the principles of ethology, sociobiology, and behavioral ecology using examples from wildlife and livestock. Behavioral sampling methods stressed. Field trip required.
568. Restoration Ecology. (3)
Recommended: AgHrt 282, Range 354, 466 (or equivalents)
Nature of ecosystem disturbance and plant succession. The developing science and practice of ecological restoration. Case studies of upland and riparian restoration.
691R. Graduate Seminar. (1)
697R. Special Problems. (1-6)
Advanced study of selected range topics: fire ecology, grazing systems, wetlands and wildlife, ecology, evolutionary biology, plant herbivore interactions, and wildlife behavioral ecology.
699R. Master's Thesis. (1-9)
799R. Doctoral Dissertation. (1-9)
FACULTY 
ANDERSON, VAL JO, Associate Professor. PhD, Texas A&M University, 1989. Range Ecology; Ecophysiology.
BROTHERSON, JACK D., Professor. PhD, Iowa State University of Science and Technology, 1969. Community Ecology; Range Management.
CATES, REX G., Professor. PhD, University of Washington, 1971. Plant/Herbivore Interactions; Ecological Chemistry.
COLEMAN, CRAIG E., Assistant Professor. PhD, Pennsylvania State University, 1992. Plant, Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology.
COX, PAUL ALAN, Professor. PhD, Harvard University, 1981. Plant Evolutionary Ecology; Ethnobotany.
FAIRBANKS, DANIEL J., Associate Professor. PhD, University of Arizona, 1988. Genetics; Plant Breeding; Biotechnology.
FLINDERS, JERRAN T., Professor. PhD, Colorado State University, 1971. Wildlife Behavior; Wildlife Habitat.
GARDNER, JOHN S., Research Professor. PhD, Brigham Young University, 1978. Electron Optics; Fungal Ultrastructure.
HESS, WILFORD M., Professor. PhD, Oregon State University, 1962. Electron Optics; Ultrastructure; Plant Pathology.
ROUNDY, BRUCE A., Professor. PhD, Utah State University, 1984. Revegetation; Restoration Ecology.
RUSHFORTH, SAMUEL R., Professor. PhD, Brigham Young University, 1970. Algology; Evolutionary Morphology; Environmental Policy.
ST. CLAIR, LARRY LEE, Professor. PhD, University of Colorado, 1984. Cryptogams; Environmental Biomonitoring.
SMITH, BRUCE N., Professor. PhD, University of Washington, 1964. Plant Physiology; Growth and Respiration.
TIDWELL, WILLIAM D., Professor. PhD, Michigan State University, 1966. Paleobotany; Anatomy.
WEBER, DARRELL JACK, Professor. PhD, University of California, Davis, 1963. Plant Biochemistry; Pathology; Xerophyte Physiology.
WELSH, STANLEY L., Professor. PhD, Iowa State University of Science and Technology, 1960. Plant Systematics; Western American and Polynesian Floras.
WOOLSTENHULME, LOREEN ALLPHIN, Assistant Professor. PhD, University of Utah, 1996. Plant Ecology; Plant Reproductive Biology; Conservation Genetics.
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