Lunch seminar: Dan Beckman on his plant inventory of a local wilderness area--the Rincons.

Like the Madrean Sky Island region in general, the Rincon Mountains are an area of exceptionally rich and dynamic plant diversity. Plants originating from distinct regional floras overlap across wide elevation ranges and rugged terrain. Dan will take us on a virtual tour of 8 different geographic zones of the Rincon Mountains that correlate with distinct floristic elements and unique species, demonstrating how a single mountain range can be a microcosm of regional patterns. He will feature historical records from the Rincons, many recent findings, and tons of photos of plants, habitats, and landscapes from his intensive field work across the range. To understand the dynamic plant geography of the Rincons, he will also draw on over 100 years of research from botanists who have explored these questions in a local context. From low-lying subtropical desert scrub up to the highest forested peaks, he hopes to give you a sense of all the magical habitats the Rincons have to offer.