William L. Preston
Professor
Fields
- Ecology of California
- Diffusion and impact of disease
- Human impact on ecology
- Land tenure
- Community health
Contact Information
- Office: Bldg. 52, E24-G
- Phone: 805-756-6264
- Email: wpreston@calpoly.edu
About William Preston
Preston's current research interests include the diffusion and impact of disease in colonial California, human impact on wildlife ecology in California, and land tenure and community health in the San Joaquin Valley.
Past research focused on the ecological relationship between humans and their environment in a portion of the San Joaquin Valley known as the Tulare Lake Basin. This research included the human alteration of valley ecosystems through time and evaluations of the resource geography of its aboriginal inhabitants-the Yokuts. Other interests include the influence of climate upon human activities, historical geography, and military history
Preston is currently a member of the "Food Systems" teaching group and the Pacific Rim Group.
Courses Taught
- GEOG 250: Physical Geography
- GEOG 308: Global Geography
- GEOG 325: Climate and Humanity
- GEOG 333: Human Impact on the Earth
Publications
- Vanishing Landscapes: Land and Life in the Tulare Lake Basin, California. 1981 University of California Press