Neotropical ecosystems are experiencing a loss of composition, structure and function due to human activity. Participants will gain an understanding of the composition, structure and function of healthy tropical ecosystems while living and working at Cano Palma Biological Station. During their seven-week stay, participants will assist with a variety of conservation efforts ranging from marine turtle conservation to cataloguing the medicinal plants of the Tortuguero region.

This year, students will be assisting with the development of new long-term research protocols. The station has new permits to conduct research with plants, invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles and fish. We will focus on improving our species inventory for all taxanomic groups while collecting information about their spatial distribution and temporal data to understand their phenology (cycles of activity).

Tropical Field Ecology is a seven week course with a focus on research and experimental design. Each week will include 5 hours of seminars and discussion of topics in neotropical ecology. We will be using the book A Neotropical Companion, 2nd Ed. (John Kricher, 1997) as the basis for our discussion. The topics are based on specific chapters in the book, including:

Tropical Climates
Rainforest Structure and Diversity
How a Rainforest Functions
Rivers through Rainforest
A Rainforest Bestiary
Neotropical Birds
Evolutionary Patterns in the Tropics
Complexities of Coevolution and Ecology of Fruit
The Neotropical Pharmacy
Living Off the Land in the Tropics
Deforestation and Conservation of Biodiversity

Currently, this course is offered only to Fleming Students. Fleming students should attend the information session in October to find out about how to qualify. The date of the information sessions for the summer 2012 course will be held at the Frost Campus in room 280 at 12:00 PM on October 20th, 2011.