Course Description:
BISC 308 Tropical Ecology with Wintersession Laboratory
Instructors: Königer, Helluy

Tropical rain forests and coral reefs seem to invite superlatives. They figure among the most fascinating, diverse, productive, but also most endangered ecosystems on earth. These topics are addressed during the fall lectures in preparation for the laboratory part of the course, which takes place in Central America during wintersession. We first travel to a small island, part of an atoll bordering the world's second longest barrier reef off the coast of Belize. In the second half of the field course we explore an intact lowland rain forest in Costa Rica. Laboratory work is carried out primarily outdoors and includes introductions to the flora and fauna, and implementation of research projects designed during the fall.

Prerequisite: 201, or 207, or 210, and permission of instructor.
Distribution: Natural and Physical Science
Semester: Fall & Wintersession Unit: 1.25


How to Get Into the Course:
Tropical Ecology will be taught again in the fall of 2010 with a field trip to Belize and Costa Rica in the wintersession of 2011. If you are interested in taking the course please contact Martina Königer or Simone Helluy in the biology department and we will email you about upcoming meetings and deadlines.

We will hold an informal meeting on March 17th 2010 at 6 pm in Prof Königer's office where you will learn details about the travel dates, costs, financial aid etc.

To apply for the course please fill out the application form online or drop it off at the desk of the biological sciences department administrative assistants. The application deadline is April 1st. Since the course is usually offered only every other year, we will give preference to juniors and seniors. You will be asked to sign up for a 15-minute time slot for an interview (on April 2nd 4:30-6:30 pm or April 5th 4:30-6:30 pm) at the bio desk. When the interviews are over the 12 participants in the course will be notified in time for fall registration. Please remember we also need a copy of your passport before we can add you to the class list in the fall.

Course Application:
Link to complete and send the course application.