Melanie Colón Posted September 25, 2015 Share Posted September 25, 2015 2015 WINTER COURSE ANNOUNCEMENT (Dec. 20Jan. 9)FIELD COURSE IN TROPICAL RAINFOREST AND CANOPY ECOLOGY (TRE W-15)COURSE LOCATION: Bocas del Toro Biological Station, Boca del Drago, IslaColon, Republic of Panama. The biological station is located on a hillfacing the Caribbean Sea. Coral reef and sea grass ecosystems lie in frontof the station and lowland tropical rain forests are directly behind. Thisjuxtaposition of the two most biologically diverse ecosystems providestremendous opportunities for education and research. Seehttp://www.itec-edu.org/ for details.INSTRUCTORS:Dr. Peter N. Lahanas, Institute for Tropical Ecology and Conservation,phone: 352-361-9128, email: lahanas@itec-edu.org. Specialty: Neotropicalforest ecology, animal behavior and herpetology.Prof. Joe Maher, Director, Tree Climbing U.S.A. , 413 College Street,Dawsonville, GA, phone: 229-732-5973, email:jmaher@treeclimbercoalition.org. Specialty: Tree canopy access,photography.COURSE DESCRIPTION: This field course is designed to provide the studentwith a foundation in ecological concepts and field techniques as applied totropical rainforest ecosystems. The material covered is equivalent to auniversity upper level course in tropical ecology. The course is dividedinto three parts. During the first few days students will become familiarwith the many ecosystems found in our area and with the trail systems during³orientation² walks. The bulk of the first 10 days will be spent learningfield techniques and carrying out various group projects or exercises (seebelow). It is during this time period that students will learn to accessthe canopy using various rope techniques (Climbing Certification isavailable, please contact Joe Maher for details). Midway through the coursethe entire station community takes a field trip to the cloud forests ofBoquete (see details below). On returning to the field station, studentswork on their individual research projects and continue to receive lecturesin the evening.FORMAL LECTURES. Formal lectures will take place in the classroom and willinclude the use of PowerPoint presentations and chalkboard. Lectures maytake place both during the day and evening. Lecture topics will include:o Neotropical Life Zones and Forest Typeso Tropical Forest Structureo Tropical forest Productivityo Epiphytes, Lianas and Creeperso Tropical Forest Dynamicso Nutrient Cyclingo Neotropical Vertebrate Ecologyo Neotropical Invertebrate Ecologyo Biodiversity Hypotheseso Plant-Animal Interactionso Animal Defensive Strategies and Mimicryo Plant Defensive Strategieso Pollination and Dispersal ecologyo Consequences of Human Useo Tropical Forest ConservationINFORMAL LECTURES. Informal lectures will be provided periodically duringorientation walks (when you first arrive), during group field projects or indiscussion groups. These will cover a wide variety of topics and willgenerally be prompted by what we encounter in the field, or by the directiontaken during group discussions.READINGS. Readings corresponding to lecture subjects will be assigned inthe text. We may also read and critique papers brought by students andfaculty and additional readings may be assigned from time to time. Inaddition, each student will read, critique, and provide oral reports onpublished papers brought to Bocas.REQUIRED TEXT: Kricher, John (1997). A Neotropical Companion. PrincetonUniversity Press, Princeton, New Jersey. ISBN 0-691-04433-3.FIELD BOOK. A field book will be required in the course. The field bookwill contain all data related to group projects and independent researchproject. The field book should also contain all other incidentalobservations such as species lists, behavioral notes, etc., and containdetailed location information. The field book must be water-proof and eitherpencil or water-proof ink used to record data.GROUP PROJECTS. These are research, exercises or demonstrational projectsdesigned by the faculty and worked on in groups of four or six students.The purpose of these projects is to familiarize students with an array offield sampling techniques and equipment commonly used in field studies.With help from a faculty member, students set up projects, collect data, andgenerally (depends on the project), analyze data, present the results to theclass, and write a report.INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH PROJECTS. Working closely with faculty, students willbe responsible for designing and completing an original research project oftheir choosing. The project may deal with any topic in tropical ecology orconservation. These projects will be carried out during the second half ofthe course and students will have about 10 days for data collection. A fewdays before the end of the course students will analyze their data, write atechnical report, prepare a PowerPoint presentation of their work and orallypresent their findings during a station-wide symposium on the last day ofthe course.BOQUETE CLOUD FOREST FIELD TRIP: This field trip will allow students theopportunity to visit other areas of Panama, to experience Panamanianculture, and to visit tropical cloud and seasonal forests first hand. Wetravel in ITEC boats to the mainland and then by chartered bus to Boquetewhich lies at the base of 11,000 ft. Volcan Baru. The bus trip will take usup and over the central mountain range and through Palo Seco National Park.Several stops will be made in route.COURSE LENGTH: ITEC Winter field courses are about three weeks in length.The TRE W-15 will run from December 20, 2015 through July 9, 2016.TUITION: $1950 USD. Tuition fee includes all lodging, meals and airporttransfers in Bocas del Toro. The tuition also covers transportation andlodging during the three-day cloud forest field trip on the mainland.REGISTRATION DEADLINE: November 20, 2015. The course is limited to 10students and applications will be evaluated as they arrive. If you believethat your application may arrive late, notify ITEC.GRADING and COURSE CREDIT: Up to 6 units of credit will be given, 3 for thelecture portion and 3 for the field portion. A letter grade will beassigned based on exams, reports, proposals, attendance at lectures, as wellas by less tangibles such as personal attitude, motivation, and contributionto the course. Course credit must be arranged at the student¹s institution.Contact ITEC for details.APPLICATIONS can be found at:http://itec-edu.org/education-programs/application/.CONTACT: Institute for Tropical Ecology and Conservation, 2911 NW 40th PL,Gainesville, FL 32605, phone: 352-367-9128, email: itec@itec-edu.org, web:http://www.itec-edu.org. ITEC is a 501©(3) non-profit organizationfounded in 1996.*********************************Peter N. Lahanas, Ph.D.Executive DirectorInstitute for Tropical Ecologyand Conservation (ITEC)2911 NW 40th PlaceGainesville, FL 32605, USAphn: 352-367-9128web: http://www.itec-edu.orgIn Panama: 011-507-6853-2134peterlahanas@gmail.comBocas del Toro Biological StationBoca del Drago, Isla Colon, PanamaField Station Manager, Enrique Dixon011-507-6624-9246 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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