Tropical Ecosystems: Biol
493/593
Summer 2005
El Zota Biological Station, Costa Rica
Ecosystem Ecology
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Tropical Ecosystems Ecology is designed as a field
intensive course that brings all of a student's academic experience
into focus to design and implement a field project. The students
will be oriented to several ecosystems in Costa Rica. These ecosystems
include cloud forest, caribbean forest and marine communities with a
focus on the Atlantic Coastal Lowland rainforest. After training
in several field measurement techniques, the students will design,
carry-out and present their projects. Lectures will be presented during
travel and at the field sites of Playa Cocles and El Zota.
OBJECTIVES
A. Orient students to field research.
B. Introduce students to the social, ethical
and conservation concerns in tropical ecosystems.
C. Introduce students to project design and
implementation under field conditions.
D. Expose students to the components of Costa
Rican Biodiversity with a focus on trees, bryophytes, birds, mammals
and insects.
E. Train students to use the following
techniques in ecosystem ecology:
1. plant identification and production of vouchers
2. observation and description of forest structure
3. soil analysis: texture, pH, nutrients
4. water analysis: pH, nutrients, organisms
5. forest structure analysis
F. Introduce students to components of
plant/animal interactions including ant defenses, leaf harvesters and
phytotelmata usage by insects and dendrobatids.
TEXTBOOK: see
reading list
INSTRUCTIONAL
ACTIVITIES AND METHODS
A.
Evaluation and Grading Policy: for dates see schedule.
Project
proposal-
10 points
Exam 1
-
30 points
Final
Exam-
30 points
Project Presentation- 30 points
B.
Grades (based on total points)
A -> 90 -
100 D -> 60 -
69
B -> 80 -
89 E ->
below 60
C -> 70 - 79
Links of
Interest
Reference Format
Example of previous Presentation Grading Rubric
Example of previous Paper Grading Rubric
DR. J-S's HOME PAGE