****o all,

I am beginning my search for master's programs and I know that I currently have three areas of interest: Wetlands, Botany, and Community Ecology.

Though I list botany as an interest, I am not looking for a Botany Program. I am only really interested in ID and some plant systematic, but not physiology or other detailed matters with plants.

My question is, can anyone recommend a good Professor / University where I could study plant communities in wetland systems? I would prefer to stay in the southeast, but will go anywhere on the east coast if need be.

I have looked into Appalachian State University in Boone, NC, VT, and Duke as three possible candidates. Any advice would be appreciated.

I don’t want to shatter any illusions but the essence of a MS is to develop and complete a research program with adequate education to support your field of choice. I would encourage you to look at your choice of programs in a larger perspective: is there ongoing research in my area of interest, do I get along with/fit in my potential major’s profs’s lab group, research interests, how much time do I want with an associated lab group or do I want to be completely self-directed?

When you enter into a program and begin your research, you and your committee will help you determine the necessary courses. Some departments will require you to have the equivalent of a BS in the subject for an MS. For example, my BS was in Wildlife Biology and my MS in Plant Ecology. So, I did not need plant physiology per se for my MS, but I needed it to complete dept “entrance contingency “requirements.

As I completed my degree, I ended up taking courses that I would never have imagined when I started. However, having worked as a wetland plant ecologist for many years, these courses have served me well. I have also found that looking at wetland plant communities requires knowledge at multiple scales: individual, population, community and landscape, so I wouldn’t dismiss that physiology course just yet.

I encourage you not to look at the courses, but the program. As an aside, one of my first letters to a potential mentor asked about computer access (this was back in the “386" days when commuters were a relatively rare commodity ). The letter came back with the same answer I am sending to you: don’t spend your time on minor details, look at the program first and then we can discuss other items.

Having said that, I am not familiar with specific programs in the SE. I believe that Andy Cole compiled a list of wetland programs at one time so you may want to contact him.

I agree with J Leslie Gecy ... look at the program. My ability to understand wetlands, community ecology, and plant taxonomy was greatly enhanced by courses in plant anatomy, physiology, etc. although my passion was in taxonomy. Good luck!

Check out the the Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences at Louisiana State University. Three of the four institutes in that department have professors that research wetland plant communities. Plus you'll get all the boiled crawfish and shrimp you could possibly eat.