CLSTHNA002 - A Natural History of Texas and the Gulf Coast
From the Big Thicket to Big Bend, and from the Rio Grande River to the Red River, Texas is one of the most biologically diverse states in the country. Stately pine forests, the spectacular Chihuahuan Desert and the Tamaulipan thornscrub are only a few of the amazing ecosystems. Our bays and rivers create a fertile and productive marine nursery. We are under the migration route of hundreds of species of birds, which makes our coastal prairies and marshes rich with ecological diversity. Discover the distinct characteristics and history of Texas’s 10 ecological zones; learn how common, rare and endangered plants and animals sustain one another; and explore stories of naturalists throughout history who documented and celebrated the great diversity of this state.
Course Details
Glenn Olsen, B.A., has taught for the Houston Audubon Society and formerly served as its vice president of education. He has also provided nature education for the Garden Club of Houston, the Katy Prairie Conservancy, the Master Naturalist Program and various nature organizations. Mr. Olsen leads birding and nature tours in the U.S. and Central and South America to explore temperate and tropical ecosystems. He also periodically contributes articles to the Houston Chronicle. Mr. Olsen has completed the Master Gardener Program and the Master Naturalist Program, and is past president of the Native Plant Society of Texas.
This course will be delivered on campus/in person. Classroom and parking information will be sent prior to your course start date. Learn more about the steps Rice University is taking to keep our community safe and healthy at glasscock.rice.edu/coronavirus.
- Key characteristics that distinguish one biological zone from another
- Unique and common plants, birds and animals of each ecological zone
- Why the flora and fauna vary from region to region
Houston Audubon Society; Texas Master Naturalists, Gulf Coast Chapter; Native Plant Society of Texas, Houston Chapter
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