Botany 640: Quantitative Ethnobotany

Ethnobotany is the scientific study of the interactions between human cultures and plants. This includes a wide range of topics taken from an even wider range of disciplines. Ethnobotany is a composite science: no one with training in any one field has an advantage over those with training in other fields. This course focuses upon the methods that are used by scientists to study interactions between people and plants.

Quantitative Ethnobotany is intended to provide students (mainly graduate students) with knowledge of the current field methods used in studies of cultural uses of plants. There are far too many techniques that are used in this branch of science to cover in a single semester.  As a result, the strategy of this course is to develop strategies and habits that encourage the self-discover and mastery of appropriate techniques.

The course activities involve learning about the methods through practical exercises, critical examinations of recent literature and writing comprehensive guides to specific methods. Quantitative methods which produce reproducible results will be emphasized. Traditional qualitative methods will be described and discussed as they are useful in initial ethnobotanical studies.

The ethics of research practice and application of research results will be emphasized throughout the course. Special attention will be given to the presentation of research results in ways that are appropriate to professional practices.

Meetings: Every Tuesday, 5:30 to 8:30 PM

Catalog Description

Modern ethnobotanical field research project design, execution, data analysis, and documentation methods. Intended for students preparing to conduct field research studies.  Lecture/discussion, term paper. Pre: 105 and one of 201, 461, ANTH 200, or BIOL 172. (3 credits)

Suggested Resources

• Laptop computer (Windows preferred)
• Microsoft Office (or equivalent)
• Anthropac ($30 for students from Analytic Technologies)
• PAST (free download)
• PDF reader (free from Foxit Software)

Instructors

• Kim Bridges
• Will McClatchey

Students registering for this course should have previously taken courses in four of the following areas:

• Ethnobotany or Economic Botany (e.g., Advanced Ethnobotany)
• Plant Anatomy/Morphology (e.g., Plant Anatomy)
• Ethnographic Field Methods (e.g., Field Methods in Cultural Anthropology)
• Cultural Anthropology (e.g., Peoples of Mexico)
• Systematic Botany (e.g., Practical Plant Taxonomy)

Additionally, students with one or more of the following general background experiences may excel in specific individual studies of ethnobotany: experience in a non-western culture, fluency in a language other than English, previous fieldwork in Anthropology, previous fieldwork in Botany.

Each class period will center around group discussions to the extent possible.  In general, a typical class will consist of the following sections:

• Techniques from the Literature: Short presentations of specific techniques found in the ethnobotanical literature.
• Orientation to a General Set of Techniques: A short presentation that outlines the scope and potential of a group of related techniques.
• Discussion and Hands-On Exercises: Groups activities that provide exposure to the techniques through discussion and hands-on activities.

In addition, the final two weeks will consist of student presentations based on written reports of "Tool Descriptions."

Techniques from the Literature

Each student, in each class meeting, will briefly introduce a technique as reported in the ethnobotanical literature.  This will consist of:

• A five minute (maximum) presentation & discussion.
• A PDF file of the article to be distributed to the class.
• A two-paragraph summary of the technique.

All students are expected to participant in all aspects of the discussions including presentation, critique, and consideration of alternative applications of each method presented.

Orientation to a General Set of Techniques

The instructors will make available (or present in class) information that gives the general scope and applicability of a set of general or related techniques.  The intent is to guide further discussion and exploration.

Discussion and Hands-On Exercises

Two things are critical: You need to know when to apply a technique and you have to know how to do it.  Among other things this requires practice.

Oral Presentation of Tool Descriptions

Each student will prepare and present a quantitative research method (see the details on in the "Tool Description Assignment"). This oral presentation will be done in the last two class meetings.  The written presentation (see below) is due about one month before the last class meeting.

Writing is essential for students of the biological and social sciences. Each students will produce one paper/project (see the details on in the "Tool Description Assignment").  Creative and interesting topics are encouraged, as long as they fit within the general scope of this exercise. A draft outline will be presented early in the course. The topic and outline must be approved by the instructor before further work is done. Please check with the instructors if there are any questions about this project at any phase of its development.

The final examination will test a range of field methods that the students should have mastered by the conclusion of the course.

Grades

Grades will be based upon a flat scale: 90% and above = A, 80%-90% = B, 70%-80% = C, etc. This scale will not be raised but may be lowered. 

Texts

The following texts are recommended for the course. Many additional reading materials will be assigned as the course proceeds.  In addition, each student should seek out access to the major journals in which ethnobotanical research is published.

Alexiades, M.N. (ed.) 1996. Selected Guidelines for Ethnobotanical Research: A Field Manual. The New York Botanical Garden, New York.

Martin, G.J. 1995. Ethnobotany: A Methods Manual. Chapman & Hall, London.

Botany 640 has been designed to enable students from different backgrounds to learn as much as possible about field methods in ethnobotany. Students are encouraged to read extra publications which seem interesting. Ethnobotany is too wide of a field for all students to read all of the available literature, so seek out interesting topics and have some fun.