COSTA RICAN
RAINFOREST ECOLOGY
SEMINAR AND
FIELD TRIP
BSC 306.08
Regional and Area Studies (2 hrs)
Fall 2004 (Thursday
Field trip December
12-22
Instructors: Dr. Joe Armstrong, FSA 123 (jearmstr@ilstu.edu)
Dr. Steve Juliano, FSA 335 (sajulia@mail.bio.ilstu.edu)
Required Text:
A Neotropical Companion:
an introduction to the animals, plants, & ecosystems of the new
world tropics. 2nd edition 1997.
John Kricher.
Reference Books:
La
Selva: Ecology and Natural History of a neotropical
rainforest.
1994. L. McDade et al.,
Costa Rican Natural History. 1983.
D. H. Janzen (ed.).,
The Ecotravellers wildlife guide:
General Description:
This class will meet 1 hr a week during the regular semester
for a seminar discussion class based on readings from A Neotropical Companion and other
supplements to provide background on rain forest ecology and natural history,
and to begin developing research ideas.
Orientation to
Objectives:
1. To learn about the rainforest community and the biology of its organisms.
2. To conduct an investigative study of rainforest ecology.
3. To observe rainforest biodiversity and seek examples of important interactions.
4. To learn about the natural history of prominent rainforest organisms.
Introduction:
Tropical Rainforest. What could be more exotic to residents of the
northern temperate zone or more intriguing to biology students? Rainforest conservation is widely discussed
and a common news item. Most biology
students are aware of the tremendous biological diversity of rainforest
communities. But how many appreciate the
low percent of land surface area occupied by tropical rain forests? How many know what percent of all known
species are thought to live in rain forest communities? (answers to both
these questions are given in your book).
Tropical
rainforests are primarily found in developing countries, far from
the
Basically, nothing in our temperate zone, agricultural/urban, first-world lives and culture offers any clue about life and biology in the tropics. For biology students, there can be no richer educational experience than studying rainforests. For this reason, we have elected to offer a course that will provide this opportunity. This course will provide you with an introduction to rainforest ecology and the natural history of prominent rainforest organisms. In addition to observing many of these features first-hand, you will develop and engage in both class and individual investigations in a rainforest community.
A Neotropical Companion covers prominent aspects of neotropical natural history and ecology and evolutionary biology, including material for ecosystems we will not visit (e.g., mangroves, grassland). It provides numerous references, and should be a valuable book for anyone intending to visit any country or ecosystem in the neotropics. In addition, it is entertainingly written and includes numerous attractive pictures, making it rather pleasant to read.
Cost:
Approximately $1500 depending upon
airfares, other variable costs, and number of participants. After enrollments are complete, a detailed
budget will be presented. This includes
round trip transportation, all meals (except for the first night and final day
in
Other Requirements:
Valid
Natural History:
What can we say. When you're surrounded by tropical forest the
opportunities to observe natural history, adaptations & biological
interactions, abound and are only limited by you own observational skills and
experience. In other words you won't see
all there is to see. However, neither do
your instructors. On Joe Armstrong's
first visit to La Selva he remarked, "Man, I've never seen so many
snakes." To which another replied,
"Oh, if you think there are a lot of snakes now, you should go out with a
herpetologist." But we all get to
practice and continue to develop our skills and experience.
Investigations:
Students will be expected to develop and execute individual research projects. The preparatory discussions and readings will be directed at assisting you in devising possible research projects. The class will conduct at least one group investigative study to help everyone get organized, to develop group cooperation, and to learn some basics of rainforest ecology and study via research. The data and results of this investigation will be shared and recorded by everyone into their journals. Although based on group discussion, the conclusions will be individually written.
Evaluation:
Class participation and oral presentations, professionalism in the field, journal notebooks, knowledge demonstrated in the field, and projects will be evaluated to determine a grade.
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Week of |
Topic |
Due |
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Aug. 27 |
Organization meeting, schedules, etc. |
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Sep. 2 |
The necessities, red-tape, course organization |
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Sep. 9 |
Class discussion Tropical climates & Ecosystems (Ch. 1) |
Deposit $250 |
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Sep. 16 |
Class discussion Rainforest structure and diversity (Ch. 2) |
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Sep. 23 |
Class discussion How a rainforest functions (Ch. 3) |
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Sep. 30 |
Class discussion Evolution in the tropics (Ch. 4) |
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Oct. 7 |
Class discussion Coevolution and the ecology of fruit (Ch. 5) |
Balance (TBA) |
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Oct. 14 |
Class discussion A neotropical pharmacy (Ch. 6) |
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Oct. 21 |
Class discussion Rivers in the rainforest (Ch. 8) |
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Oct. 28 |
Class discussion Animals of neotropical forests (Chs. 13, 12) |
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Nov. 4 |
Preliminary project plans & discussion |
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Nov. 11 |
Class discussion People, rainforests, & conservation (Chs. 7, 14) |
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Nov. 18 |
Class discussion |
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Nov. 25 |
No class Thanksgiving break |
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Dec. 2 |
Final preparation Appendix |
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Dec. 12-22 |
Field trip |
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Journal/Notebook:
All participants will be expected to keep a journal/notebook recording (1) personal observations & commentary (optional), (2) natural history observations, and (3) investigative questions, data, analysis of data, and conclusions obtained during the field trip. Famous naturalists like Darwin and Wallace kept exceedingly detailed notes, and of course, they published their experiences as books. Your textbook began as field journals kept by the authors. Rainforests are full of interesting and wonderful things, but they are quickly forgotten if not recorded. You will be expected to devote at least an hour each day to journal entries. Each day you will be expected to make an observation of some biological phenomenon that catches your attention. After recording these observations, you will seek to determine if anything is known about what you observed (library & reference books). Then you will consider what of interest might be studied. What interesting questions does your observation raise? What would you do to initiate study of such a phenomenon? Thinking like a biologist takes practice.
Investigative studies will be recorded in your journals. The nature of the question, your ideas about solving the problem or answering the question, your actual approach, the data you collected, your analysis of the results, and the conclusions reached will all be recorded in a neat orderly manner. Each journal entry will be titled with date & time noted. Personal commentary, natural history observations, & investigations will be kept as separate entries.
Examples of journal entries
17
Dec,
A large tree iguana, (Iguana
iguana - hard to remember!) is perched on a
branch just to one side and above the suspension bridge. He is huge, maybe 1.5 m long, nose to
tail. He was raising and bobbing his
head displaying a huge colored flap of skin under his chin & throat. This flap is called a dewlap, & males use
it to display to attract females & guard territories from other males. Otherwise he doesn't seem to move much. Wonder when they eat? Do they move around & eat at night,
returning to a display perch by day? Or
do they have such a low metabolism that they just don't do much? Maybe observations tonight will tell. Can we estimate a territory by looking at the
spacing of the iguanas in the tree canopies?
17
Dec,
Why are tree gaps important in rainforest ecology? Obviously they let in light & light is important for plants.
But how much more gets in? We
will use a light meter to measure sunlight intensity in the open and then under
the closed rainforest canopy. They we
will measure light across a tree gap & see how it changes. The following data will be recorded in footcandles
18
Dec, AM - Weather (a
personal commentary)
Rain, rain, rain!
& just when I thought it couldn't rain any harder, the rain got even
heavier. Tropical rains just come
straight down, suddenly, but no wind, no thunder, no lightening, and they are
warm. This really convinces me that this
is a rain forest. Don't know how much
rainfall there has been today, but it must be a lot. Some of the trails and low-lying areas are
flooded; the streams rise impressively in a very short period of time. Stay out of creeks & such if it
rains. Now I understand the rubber boots
& umbrellas! Not many organisms
around in heavy rain. We will check the
rise in water level in the frog swamp later by marking the level & time on
a hand rail post.
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Sunday 12 Dec. |
DEPART DEPART O'Hare - ARRRIVE San Jose, Coach to motel. Approx. |
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Monday 13 Dec. |
DEPART **Move into dorms **Station orientation - Rules and safety issues, maps & locations **Guided walk with one of the stations naturalists. |
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13 Dec 20 Dec. |
Rain forest ecology & natural history: observations and investigations |
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Tuesday 21 Dec. |
DEPART La Selva - **Free time in **Buenos dias, gringos. |
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Wednesday 22 Dec. |
DEPART **Return to |