[MPWG] request feedback on planned doctoral study on reproductive ecology of plants

Thu May 24 12:44:55 CDT 2007

I am a floristic botanist/plant ecologist and an adjunct professor affiliated with SIPI (the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute), a two-year national tribal college in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I am currently establishing an herbarium at SIPI that is dedicated for the use of the tribes and pueblos of the American Southwest as well as SIPI students.  I received my master's degree under Dr. Ron Hartman, Rocky Mountain Herbarium, at University of Wyoming in 1990. 

I would like to pursue a comparative doctoral study on the reproductive ecology (pollination, breeding systems, fruit-seed yield and seed dispersal) of a traditionally used plant group growing on Native American gather areas in the American Southwest. This must include comparative studies of populations in heavily degraded vs. undisturbed or regenerated areas. I have contacts within the tribes, pueblos, tribal colleges, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Forest Service, and U.S. Park Service who would help facilitate this type of research. I have been working on various short-term contracts with these agencies for the last 12 years.  

Research areas for my doctorate could be sited on Navajo, Zuni, Acoma, and White Mountain Apache lands. This could also include adjacent U.S. Forest Service lands and U. S. National Monuments (Gila Wilderness area, El Malpais, El Morro, and the Gila Cliff Dwellings). These properties are all located in south-central to southwestern New Mexico and adjacent Arizona and are within the geographic area covered by the new SIPI herbarium (founded in February of 2006). National park and forest service wilderness lands (El Morro, the Gila Cliff Dwellings and Gila Wilderness) offers 571,525 acres for prospective research sites with an additional 14,000 acres on El Malpais National Monument. Reservation sites that could be used for degraded, or regenerated or undisturbed sites comprise approximately 2,506,357 acres.

The plant groups that I would be interested in studying are as follows.  Further research needs to be completed to narrow the list and make a final decision.

Polygonaceae (Eriogonum, Polygonum and Rumex)

Apiaceae (Lomatium, Cymopterus, Ligusticum)

Nyctaginaceae (Mirabilis, Tripterocalyx, maybe others)

Liliaceae s.l. (Allium, Calochortus, others?)

Malvaceae (Sphaeralcea, Malva)

Rosaceae (Cercocarpus, Cowania, Fallugia, Purshia)

Anacardiaceae (Rhus glabra, R. microphylla, R. trilobata)

Solanaceae (Lycium, Physalis, Solanum)

Lamiaceae (haven't narrowed down species)

Agavaceae (excluding Yucca)

Dr. Bernhardt of SLU in Saint Louis, Missouri and I have been discussing the possibility of pursuing this research in his laboratory. However, SLU is currently unable to offer financial support in the form of a TA or RA. I am looking for other professors who would be interested in sponsoring and advising me during the completion of this doctorate. If you or anyone you know would be interested please contact me (e-mail: nkastning at sipi.bia.edu, njkastning at aol.com).

The herbarium at SIPI is much needed. Currently, there are no botanical research institutions that are easily accessible and dedicated to supporting the natural resource or environmental programs of the tribes and pueblos of the American Southwest. SIPI Natural Resource Program students have not had a botanical teaching collection for their courses.

The SIPI herbarium collects ethnobotanical and ethnoecological information in addition to the standard ecological and geographical information found in herbarium databases and on labels. SIPI herbarium interns can help with the doctoral research I am proposing, giving botanical and ethnoecological research experience to Native American students within the tribal college system. If you are interested in supporting this project in any way, please let me know, and I can send along our draft Herbarium Mission Statement for your perusal.

Sincerely,

Nancy Kastning

Adjunct Professor, Expert-in-Residence

Southwestern Indian Polytechnic College

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