Desert Laboratory
Encyclopedia
The Desert Laboratory at 1675 West Anklam Road, Tucson, Arizona
was founded by the Carnegie Institution in 1903 to better understand how plants adapted to arid desert environments. Numerous long term ecological experiments were created on the 860 acres (3.5 km²) around Tumamoc Hill
. The facility and staff were key contributors to what is now considered the science of ecology, including participating in the creation of the Ecological Society of America
in 1915 and the Ecology
journal.
It was declared a National Historic Landmark
in 1965.,
Botanist of the USDA and Daniel T. McDougal of the New York Botanical Garden
chose Tumamoc Hill as the location of the Desert Laboratory in February, 1903. It opened in October of that year.
It is now operated by Tumamoc: People & Habitats, part of the University of Arizona's College of Science.
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
was founded by the Carnegie Institution in 1903 to better understand how plants adapted to arid desert environments. Numerous long term ecological experiments were created on the 860 acres (3.5 km²) around Tumamoc Hill
Tumamoc Hill
Tumamoc Hill is located west of downtown Tucson, Arizona and is home to many radio, television, and public safety transmitters. The University of Arizona owns a preserve and leases another as a research and education facility with a small astronomical observatory with a telescope on the hill...
. The facility and staff were key contributors to what is now considered the science of ecology, including participating in the creation of the Ecological Society of America
Ecological Society of America
The Ecological Society of America is a professional organization of ecological scientists. Based in the United States, ESA publishes a suite of publications, from peer-reviewed journals to newsletters, fact sheets and teaching resources. It holds an annual meeting at different locations in the...
in 1915 and the Ecology
Ecology (journal)
Ecology is a scientific journal publishing research and synthesis papers in the field of ecology. It was founded in 1920, and is published by the Ecological Society of America.- External links :**...
journal.
It was declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1965.,
History
Acting on the authority of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, Frederick Vernon CovilleFrederick Vernon Coville
Frederick Vernon Coville was an American botanist who careered in the United States Department of Agriculture , where he became Chief Botanist, and was the first director of the United States National Arboretum...
Botanist of the USDA and Daniel T. McDougal of the New York Botanical Garden
New York Botanical Garden
- See also :* Education in New York City* List of botanical gardens in the United States* List of museums and cultural institutions in New York City- External links :* official website** blog*...
chose Tumamoc Hill as the location of the Desert Laboratory in February, 1903. It opened in October of that year.
It is now operated by Tumamoc: People & Habitats, part of the University of Arizona's College of Science.