4 hours. 4 hours lecture and 4 hours lab per week.
Tropical Field Ecology
Course Description
An interdisciplinary field program in tropical habitats,
exploring and comparing tropical environments, their natural
history, their biological wealth, and the ecological patterns,
processes, and interactions that characterize tropical systems.
Students will develop competence in recognition and observation
of tropical organisms in the wild. Analysis of the interplay of
tropical nature and human society, the threats to tropical
biodiversity, and current conservation approaches in the tropics.
Athena Title
Tropical Field Ecology
Non-Traditional Format
This course is taught in Costa Rica.
Prerequisite
(BIOL 1108 or BIOL 2108H) and permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Offered summer semester every year. Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to understand the patterns and processes of geography, climate, geology, soils, and vegetation in the tropics.
Students will be able to recognize the interplay of nature and human society in shaping tropical landscapes. Develop an understanding of tropical agricultural practices and their ecological consequences.
Students will understand how to be aware of global patterns of biodiversity, with special reference to latitudinal gradients.
Students will understand how to be aware of the issues surrounding conservation, loss of habitat, global warming, invasive species, and sustainable development in the tropics. Critically assess aspects of sustainability.
Students will gain proficiency in natural history and the observation of tropical organisms in the wild.
Students will be able to recognize and identify major groups of tropical organisms, including plants, insects, birds, mammals, intertidal marine invertebrates, and fish. Use standard reference works on taxonomy of tropical flora and fauna.
Students will be able to understand how to apply skills of observation and taxonomy to identify unfamiliar species in unexplored sites.
Students will understand how to work competently and safely within various tropical environments, including forest, riparian habitats, marine habitats, and agricultural zones; understand risks to health and safety, and apply measures to minimize risks.
Students will be aware of current focus areas of research in tropical ecology and understand the issues.
Topical Outline
Tropical climates, global circulation patterns, and seasonality in the tropics
Geography and agriculture in Costa Rica
Geological origins of Central America
Tropical soils and soil processes
Tropical plant families: bryophytes, ferns, and angiosperms
Tropical forest ecology: issues and the evidence
Insect diversity in the tropics
Costa Rican amphibian families: natural history, reproduction, and acoustic signaling
Amphibian conservation
Tropical mammals: evolution of the major groups
Systematics and ecology of Costa Rican bats
Tropical birds: major families, and recognition of birds in the field
