Tropical Rainforests

REVISED

Winter 2012 quarter

Faculty

Dina Roberts conservation biology, wildlife management , David Phillips

Fields of Study

botany, ecology, environmental studies, field studies, international studies, language studies, mathematics, natural history, study abroad and zoology

Preparatory for studies or careers in

environmental studies, ecology, conservation biology, evolutionary biology and Latin American studies.

Prerequisites

Introduction to Environmental Studies or one year of college-level science; Spanish is highly recommended.

Description

The tropics are the cradle of the world's biodiversity. This program will focus on Costa Rica, emphasizing biological richness, field ecology, the physical environment, statistical analysis of field data, conservation biology and Latin American culture. The first seven weeks of the program will be held on the Evergreen campus, followed by a three-week field trip to Costa Rica. The on-campus portion will include lectures and labs on global patterns of biological diversity, quantification and analysis of ecological diversity, an overview of major taxa of Neotropical plants, insects and vertebrates, and discussions of the physical environment of tropical regions. This material will be integrated with classes in introductory statistics and conversational Spanish.

During the Costa Rica field trip, we will visit four major field sites, including coastal habitats, tropical dry forest, cloud forest and lowland rain forest. Students will learn about common plants and animals in each area, dominant landforms and ecological processes, conservation issues and current biological research activities. Students will also learn techniques of field research by participating in quantitative field labs, both faculty and student led. In the evenings there will be a series of guest lectures by research scientists. The field trip will require rigorous hiking and backpacking in remote locations.

Location

Olympia

Online Learning

Enhanced Online Learning

Books

Greener Store

Study Abroad

Approximately $2,500 (student fee plus airfare) for three-week study abroad in Costa Rica.

May be offered again in

Winter 2013-2014.

Offered During

Day

Program Revisions