This course is an interdisciplinary field program in one of the most biodiverse and complex ecosystems in the world. We will explore various tropical environments and discover their biological wealth and the natural history of organisms that we encounter.

We will examine the ecological patterns, processes, and interactions that characterize tropical systems, in order to ask the question: What makes tropical systems unique? We will focus on the observation of tropical organisms in the wild, address threats to biodiversity, and examine current conservation approaches in Costa Rica and elsewhere. Although several topics will be presented in a formal classroom setting, participants will more often be challenged during outdoor activities and excursions throughout the country, with as much material presented out-of-doors as possible. We will visit sea turtle nesting sites, coastal reefs, and mangroves, and work in tropical dry forests, cloud forests, rain forests, and coastal systems, all found within Costa Rica. Your attention and active engagement will be required throughout this semester.

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ECOL 3100-3100L

Offered fall semester every year.