BIO 350I, Tropical Ecology and Conservation, Spring 2011

Professor: Dr. Kendra Cipollini

Class:F 3:00-5:00 PM, Kettering 302

Email Address:

Professor Website:

Office:Kettering 204

Office Hours:By appointment

Office Phone:937-382-6661 Extension 367

Required Texts: Kricher, J. 1997. A Neotropical Companion, 2nd Edition. PrincetonUniversity Press, NJ.

Forsyth, A. and K. Miyata. 1984. Tropical Nature: Life and Death in the Rain Forests of Central and South America. Simon and Schuster, New York, NY.

Knisely, Karin. 2009. A student handbook for writing in biology, 3rd edition. Sinauer Associates, Inc., Sunderland, MA.

Course Objectives:

Understand key ecological and evolutionary principles related to tropical ecology, including:
the generation of biological complexity through evolution and the value of biodiversity of tropical ecosystems
the natural history of some major tropical ecosystems
the ecological factors that affect the distribution and evolution of tropical organisms
the importance of biological interactions and co-evolution of tropical species
current threats to tropical biodiversity and strategies for conservation
Gain an understanding the ethical and cultural issues related to conservation and environmental resource use in a developing country.
Demonstrate the ability to identify several types of tropical organisms.
Develop observational skills through use of a field notebook.
Demonstrate an understanding of the scientific process through conception, implementation, analysis and presentation both written (in scientific report format) and oral (using Powerpoint) of an ecological experiment, performed in Costa Rica.
Use library resources, develop critical reading and integrative skills during preparation of final written research report.

General Information:

Important course announcements will be made in class, posted on the website and/or sent to your WilmingtonCollege email account. It is expected that you will check your emails at least once every 24 hours during the semester. Lecture notes will be posted on the course webpage. These notes are not meant to replace your attendance in class, nor your note-taking during class. Many times there are important concepts covered in the lecture that are not explicitly addressed in the notes and text; therefore it is important you take careful notes during lecture and lab. You should read the relevant prior to coming to class.

You absolutely must take an active role in your learning to be successful in this course. The professor will be available during office hours, via email and by appointment to answer any questions you have concerning course content and your progress. There is one guarantee for this course; if you start off with a true commitment to do well, question the professor at every opportunity, meet deadlines, and study hard, you will pass this course with no trouble.

Lectures:

Each lecture at WilmingtonCollege prior to the field experience in Costa Rica will consist of four parts. The majority of each lecture will be dedicated to the ecological and evolutionary concepts related to tropical ecosystems. The second part of each lecture will focus on the diversity and characters of one group of tropical organisms. The next part will introduce various “tools of the trade,” that is, the types of tools that field ecologists use. The last part of each lecture will focus on understanding the cultural, political and/or socioeconomic aspects related to the travel experience in Costa Rica.

Grading System:

Grades will be based on:

2 exams, 100 points each200

Field notebook200

Attendance and participation150

Research report150

Research presentation 50

Total Possible Points:800

Points earned will be added and grades will be assigned based on the scale below. Do not expect any "curving" of grades in this course. From the Wilmington College Faculty Handbook: “It is the policy of WilmingtonCollege to strive to fairness in grading and avoid grade inflation. Faculty are encouraged to regard ‘C-‘ as a satisfactory grade, which means the student is meeting College standards, and will treat it as such in talking with students. The grade of ‘A’ on the other hand, should mean outstanding achievement, with a grade of ‘B’ in between. The grade ‘D’ represents minimally acceptable achievement, and the grade ‘F’ indicates failure.”

Letter grade and pointsMeaning of grade (from WC Handbook)

A = 736-800, A- = 720-735Range of outstanding achievement

B+ = 696-719, B = 656-695, B- = 640-655Range of good achievement

C+ = 616-639, C = 576-615, C- = 560-575Range of average achievement

D+ = 536-559, D = 480-535Range of below average achievement

F = < 480Inadequate achievement

Exams and Assignments:

The lecture exam given during finals week will be a mixture of multiple choice, matching, short answer and essay. A field practicum exam will be given during the last week in Costa Rica, focusing on identification and biology of common species encountered in Costa Rica. If you miss an exam, you will receive a zero on the exam; there will be no make-ups. If extreme and unavoidable circumstances occur that make you miss the lecture exam, you must contact the professor prior to the examby first calling the professor’s office and then emailing the professor. You must have documented proof of these unusual circumstances. Similarly, no late assignments will be accepted except under documented extraordinary circumstances.

Electronic assignments submitted via email or disk will not be accepted unless otherwise indicated by the professor. All multi-page assignments must be stapled when turned in; an assignment is not considered complete until it is properly stapled and will not be accepted by the professor unstapled.

Field Notebook: For this course you will keep a field notebook, in which you will document your observations in Costa Rica, as well as complete assigned activities. A guideline for keeping field notebooks is forthcoming. Assignments will be given during the course of the field experience.

Research Paper and Presentation: You will design and implement field studies in groups during the field experience in Costa Rica. Upon returning, you will complete an independent research paper and give an oral presentation of your research using Powerpoint.

Attendance/Absence/Behavior Policy:

Attendance for every class and in each activity is mandatory. For each lecture or activity (or portion thereof) that you miss, 25 points will be deducted from your attendance and participation points, regardless of the excuse. If you miss a class where a presentation and/or assignment is due, you will receive a zero for the presentation and a zero for the assignment.

Students are expected to actively participate in lecture and field activities and will be graded on their level of participation. Students are expected to exhibit appropriate etiquette in both lecture and in the field, including, but not limited to, listening attentively when the professor or another person is speaking, raising a hand before speaking, arriving to class on time andturning off cell phones.

Academic Integrity Policy:

Students are expected to understand and adhere to the Academic Integrity Policy in the Wilmington College Student Handbook and will be reported to The Office of Academic Affairs if a violation occurs. If it is your second academic integrity offense at the College, you will receive an F in the course.

Note: If you have specific physical, psychological, or learning disabilities and require accommodations, please notify your professors and the StudentResourceCenter within the first week of the semester so that your learning needs may be appropriately met.

Schedule of Classes:

Note: The course content may be modified as required, at the professor’s discretion (e.g. change of pace, change in chapter readings, change in laboratory exercises, etc.). Such changes will be announced in class and posted on the course website.

Week / Date / Topic / Reading
1 / F, October 29 / Tropical Climate and Tropical Ecosystems
Plants (Chapter 4 F&M, Chapter 5 F&M) / Chapter 1 JK*
Chapter 2 JK*
Chapter 8 JK
Chapter 10 JK
Chapter 11 JK
Chapter 1 F&M
2 / F, November 5 / Nutrient Cycling and Gap Dynamics
Mammals (Chapter 13 JK) / Chapter 3 JK*
Chapter 2 F&M
Chapter 3 F&M
3 / F, November 12 / Biodiversity & Evolution
Birds (Chapter 12 F&M, Chapter 12 JK) / Chapter 4 JK*
Chapter 16 F&M
4 / F, November 19 / Species Interactions and Co-evolution
Insects (Chapter 9 F&M, Chapter 10 F&M, Chapter 13 JK) /

Chapter 5 JK*

Chapter 6 JK*

Chapter 6 F&M
Chapter 7 F&M
Chapter 8 F&M
Chapter 11 F&M
Chapter 13 F&M
5 / F, December 3 / Conservation
Herptiles and Fish (Chapter 14 F&M, Chapter 12 JK) /

Chapter 7 JK*

Chapter 14 JK

Chapter 17 F&M

6 / FINALS WEEK / EXAM

Dec 27 - Jan 9 - IN COSTA RICA (Schedule attached)

6 / F, Jan 14 / Field Experience Wrap-Up
Research Paper Information
Field Notebooks Due
9 / F, Feb 4 / Presentation of Research Projects
10 / F, Feb 11 / Presentation of Research Projects
11 / F, Feb 18 / Research Paper Due
Time / M, Dec 27 / T, Dec 28 / W, Dec 29 / R, Dec 30 / F, Dec 31 / Sa, Jan 1
6:00 / Breakfast / Breakfast / Breakfast / Milk Cows / Breakfast
6:30 / Natural History Hike with Naturalist / Field Studies
7:00 / Leave La Selva
Arrive Monteverde / Breakfast / Selvatura
Zip Line and Canopy Walk, ButterflyGarden, InsectMuseum, etc.
(Extra Fee)
7:30 / Cloud Forest and Quakers in Monteverde
8:00
8:30
9:00
9:30
10:00 / C-busAirport
10:30
11:00
11:30 / Lunch on your own
12:00 / Lunch / Lunch / Lunch / Lunch / Lunch on your own
12:30 / Flight Leaves US
Flight Arrives CR / Field Studies / Field Studies / Leave Monteverde
Arrive Arenal
1:00 / Workshop - Identifying Tropical Plants
1:30
2:00 / Natural History Hike with Naturalist
2:30
3:00
3:30 / Latin Dancing Lesson
4:00 / Volcano Hike
4:30
5:00
5:30
6:00 / Dinner / Dinner / Dinner / Dinner / Dinner
6:30
7:00 / Evening Lecture / Student Presentations
Evening Lecture / Night Hike with Naturalist / San Luis Fiesta / Evening Lecture
7:30
8:00 / Evening Lecture
8:30
9:00 / Leave San Jose
Arrive La Selva
10:00
11:00
Time / Su, Jan 2 / M, Jan 3 / T, Jan 4 / W, Jan 5 / R, Jan 6 / F, Jan 7
6:00 / Breakfast / Breakfast / Breakfast
6:30 / Breakfast / Breakfast / Breakfast / Field Studies / HORSEBACK RIDING OR
FISHING OR
SNORKELING (Extra Fee)
7:00 / Natural History Hike / Natural History Hike with Naturalist / Field Studies
7:30
8:00 / Leave Palo Verde
Arrive Las Baulas
8:30
9:00
9:30
10:00 / Hot Springs
(Extra Fee)
Box Lunch or Lunch on your own
10:30
11:00
11:30
12:00 / Lunch / Lunch / Box Lunch / Lunch / Lunch
12:30 / Field Studies / Field Studies / Natural History Hike with Naturalist / Field Studies / Field Studies
1:00
1:30 / Leave Arenal
Arrive Palo Verde
2:00
2:30
3:00
3:30
4:00
4:30
5:00
5:30
6:00 / Dinner / Dinner / Dinner / Dinner / Dinner / Dinner
6:30
7:00 / Evening Lecture / Student Presentations
Evening Lecture / Student Presentations
Evening Lecture / Visit Turtle Nesting Site / Student Presentations / Student Presentations
7:30
8:00 / Field Practicum Exam
8:30
9:00
10:00
11:00
Time / Sa, Jan 8 / Su, Jan 9
6:00 / Breakfast / Breakfast
6:30 / Field Studies / Arrive at airport
7:00
7:30
8:00
8:30 / Flight leaves CR
Flight arrives US
9:00
9:30
10:00
10:30
11:00
11:30
12:00 / Lunch
12:30 / Leave Las Baulas
Arrive San Jose
1:00
1:30
2:00
2:30
3:00
3:30
4:00
4:30
5:00
5:30
6:00
6:30 / Group dinner on our own
7:00
7:30
8:00
8:30
9:00