Dendroecology is the study of ecology through the use of the tree-ring record. This record is retained over time due to the remarkable preservation qualities of wood, and across the wide geographical distribution of trees. Through the science of dendrochronology, a broad range of ecological variables can be reconstructed and analyzed, including temporal and spatial variation in climate, disturbance, competition, insect outbreaks, and other phenomena. The result is a remarkably long and detailed record of ecological variability.

This two-week intensive course will introduce students to basic theory and techniques in dendroecology. Lectures, laboratory training, and a multi-day field trip with sample and data collection are integral to the course and learning strategy. The course will be based at the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research on the campus of the University of Arizona in Tucson and at the Valles Caldera Science & Education Center in Jemez Springs, New Mexico. The class is designed for graduate or advanced undergraduate students or with an interest in the field, as well as faculty and postdoctoral researchers. Working professionals in forest ecology and management are also encouraged to participate.

Lectures will be presented by the course instructors and guest lecturers from the LTRR and other research units. The course will convene at 9:00 AM on Monday, May 14 in Math East Room 20 at the University of Arizona and run through to May 25 at the Valles Caldera Science & Education Center. A detailed lecture schedule with daily activities will be posted shortly before the course commences.

Readings Readings are drawn primarily from the published literature. We will distribute readings during the first week of class, and some sessions will be devoted to discussing current literature seminar style. Readings will be distributed as hard copies during the course, or as electronic copies. Please make every effort to read assigned material before the relevant lecture.

Laboratories are an integral part of the learning experience. A sequence of laboratories will take the student through basic principles of accurately cross-dating wood samples. Lab sessions will include introduction to dating temporal events (such as fires) as well as creating and working with ring-width series to understand the ecology of tree growth as a time series. Students will also be introduced to a variety of computer programs used in dendroecological research.

Field component The second week will be at the Valles Caldera National Preserve Science & Education Center in Jemez Springs, New Mexico (transportation from Tucson to Jemez Springs & return to Tucson will be provided).

Student projects Students taking the course for graduate credit (GEOS 597k or equivalent) must participate in a group paper or lab project of suitable intensity given the short duration of the class. Further instructions will be provided at the beginning of the course.

Grading and evaluation Grades and non-credit evaluations will be assigned on the following basis:

The couse will count towards two or three credit units (contact the instructors for details).

Practicalities Tuition will be payable to the University of Arizona upon acceptance into the course by the instructors and submission of application materials. Off-campus housing is available and must be arranged separately. All international students or those requiring special arrangements to participate should contact one of the instructors as soon as possible, prior to registration. The total cost is still to be decided, but will be around $1,500 to $2,000, including UA registration fees, and course costs (which will cover transportation costs from Tucson to Jemez Springs and back to Tucson, and accommodations in Jemez Springs, and other instruction expenses). Transportation costs from your residence to Tucson and return, and accommodations while in Tucson for the first week will be additional costs paid by the student. If you are potentially interested in attending, please send — by February 15, 2012 — a message to Lourdes Perkins (lperkins@email.arizona.edu) at the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, with the subject line “Dendroecology Summer Course”, and include:

• A brief description of your background, i.e., undergraduate or graduate degrees; current program of study, work, or research
• A brief statement of how you are using, or may use dendrochronology in the future, and reasons for your interest in this course
• Indicate if a scholarship or partial scholarship covering all or part of the fees or other expenses will be essential or not for your participation (there is a possibility that we can cover a small number of such scholarships).

Please note that this course immediately precedes the 22^nd North American Dendroecology Fieldweek (NADEF), which runs from May 28 to June 5, 2012, and the NADEF will be held in the same location at the Valles Caldera National Preserve Science & Education Center in Jemez Springs, NM. Hence, interested students may enroll in both the UA-LTRR Dendroecology summer course AND the NADEF for a full 3 week immersion in dendrochronology! Further, the NADEF organizers have indicated they may be able to provide a $50 discount for participants who will sign up for both courses. For more information about the NADEF, contact Dr. Jim Speer at: jim.speer@indstate.edu and visit the website at: http://dendrolab.indstate.edu/nadef/ Applications for NADEF are due no later than March 30, 2012, and are to be sent to Dr. Speer at the address above. If you do apply to both the UA-LTRR and NADEF courses, please indicate this in both of your applications.