Zoo Internquest is a seven week career exploration program for San Diego County high school juniors and seniors. Students have the unique opportunity to meet professionals working for the San Diego Zoo, Safari park, and Institute for Conservation Research, learn about their jobs, and then blog about their experience online. Follow their adventures here on the Zoo’s website!
When most think of the San Diego Zoo or the Zoo’s conservation work, they think of the animals, not the plants. This is because, for the most part, when people go to the Zoo, they go specifically to see the animals. Coming into this internship, I was mostly in it for the animals and the work that goes into conserving these species. So when I was told that for this week, one day would be focused on the Zoo’s reptiles and the other on the Zoo’s plants, I was far more excited for the reptiles. That is not to say that I wasn’t excited about getting to learn about the Zoo’s plants and the conservation work surrounding them, it was quite the opposite, I was excited. I love anything involving nature, plants and animals alike. However, after this week’s sessions, I can say that I should have been just as excited for the plants as the reptiles, because now, I have a much larger appreciation for plants than I did before.
During our Wednesday session this week, we got to learn about the Zoo’s Native Plant Seed Bank. Our guide while we were there was Joe Davitt, one of the Research Associates in the Plant Conservation Department. Mr. Davitt is a part of the team that works in the Seed Bank and is responsible for part of the Zoo’s efforts regarding native plant conservation. As a part of his job, Mr. Davitt performs a variety of tasks that change throughout the year, with the spring and summer spent collecting seeds and plant samples from around Southern California, and the rest of the year being used to assess the health of different plant populations. Additionally, during the off season, Mr. Davitt and his coworkers create a plan of attack for the next collecting season. Throughout the year, Mr. Davitt will care for the Seed Bank’s living specimens as well as conduct lab work involving the seeds he has already collected, which largely includes germination tests and preparation for storage in the Seed Bank.
One of the plant species that Mr. Davitt has been working with is Dudleya brevifolia, a critically endangered species of succulent which can be seen to the right. The plants pictured to the right are specimens currently under the care of the Seed Bank.
When asked about how and why he came to work for the San Diego Institute for Conservation Research, Mr. Davitt said that when he was young, he loved plants and animals, and he knew he wanted to work with them. He was originally planning to be a veterinarian in the future. However, during his time in college he decided to major in ecology and work in conservation as he wanted be out in the field, rather than behind a desk. Eventually, his educational background and enthusiasm for nature landed him a job at the Institute for Conservation Research, taking part in the Zoo’s conservation efforts in preserving native plant species. That continued until he finally became a part of the Seed Bank’s team. As a self-described, “plant nerd,” Mr. Davitt expressed that he chose to work with plants both because plants are vital to save animals, and because, “plants are way cooler.” It was that first statement that really stuck with me. It’s always been so easy to get sucked into the world of animals and forget about the importance of plants. Mr. Davitt’s statement has reminded me that the health of plants and animals are intertwined, and if you want to help one, you need to help both.
The Plant Conservation Department and its researchers are like all of San Diego Zoo Global, devoted to nature and ensuring a present and future where both plants and animals can prosper. Mr. Davitt and his coworkers are planting seeds both in the ground and in the minds of the students like me; seeds that will hopefully lead to a better tomorrow.
Amber, Careers Team
Week Two, Winter Season 2018
