Syllabus
The Tropical Forest Conservation Field Course is designed to give a hands-on introduction to tropical forest ecology, natural history, and conservation science. The course is framed around the concept of “rapid biodiversity assessment”: the methods by which tropical conservation scientists and international conservation groups attempt to efficiently assess the diversity of organisms they seek to protect. Such methods are critical, since large numbers species in major groups of organisms, including insects and plants that make up most of the species found in tropical forests, are not even described in most tropical regions.
The primary course assignments involve collection of observational field data on birds, insects, woody plants, and forest structure over a range of different forest habitat types on the island of Dominica. Students will submit both data forms and records of organisms observed, specifically in the form of digital photographs and recordings taken in the field or lab. A final report, making use of the course data to evaluate the rapid assessments of biodiversity and their implications to conservation planning on Dominica, is also required, to be submitted 3 weeks after return to Toronto.
Details
The island of Dominica, located in the middle of the Lesser Antilles island chain in the eastern Caribbean, provides an extraordinary introduction to tropical forest ecology and conservation. Although Dominica is somewhat smaller than the Greater Toronto Area, it spans habitats that include coastal scrub forest, semi-deciduous tropical forest, lowland and lower montane tropical rain forest, montane and elfin tropical forests, freshwater streams and lakes, coral reefs, sulfur springs, and even boasts a boiling lake. Our home base for the course is Archbold Tropical Research and Education Center (ATREC), within a 2 1/2 hour drive of all of this.
This course is structured around all-day field trips. With the exception of one day off, we will spend most days (and some nights) visiting different habitats and locations on the island. Most of the field excursions will involve exercises that introduce specific methods used by conservation scientists to assess forest biodiversity and significance from a conservation perspective. As a group we will collect quantitative data on forest structure, plant, bird, and insect diversity in most of the habitat types visited during the field trips.
Topics also addressed in the context of the field trips will include: species diversity, island biogeography, adaptive radiation, seed predation, seed dispersal, mutualisms, habitat specialization, “old growth” tropical forests, the role of disturbance in forest ecology, invasive species, and adaptive responses to extreme environments.
NOTE: Yes, we are planning one day on a boat cruising the Caribbean Sea to watch dolphins frolic and whales swimming and to snorkel with sea turtles, sharks, octopus, rays, and tropical fish species. However, this is not a leisure course. This is a course about tropical biodiversity and ecology, and it takes some effort to observe and learn about tropical organisms in some of their native habitats. On at least two occasions, we will spend the entire day hiking, one of those days spent going up steep slopes for several hours, and then back down for several hours. Much of the work, both in the field and lab, will involve careful observations of specimens, and sorting and analysis of digital media. If these types of activities do not appeal to you, DO NOT TAKE THIS COURSE.
Course evaluation criteria:
* Field data collection: 40%
* Final report: 40%
* Class participation: 20%
Field data collection assignments will consist of data sheets, field notes, and digital documentation of organisms observed (e.g., digital photo catalog of insects and plants and bird voice recordings). The final report will be due three weeks following return from the field, and will include presentation and analysis of field data, and a synthesis that works toward development of conservation recommendations. Class participation will make up 20% of the final grade. Class participation in this course includes everything from being ready to leave on time for trips to discussions in the field to general attitude. For example, spotting a rare brid species and helping others see it is considered a positive form of class participation.
