Featured Trip

CURRENT GRADE Middle School High School College INTEREST Caribbean Voyages Scuba Sailing Outdoor Skills & Leadership Marine Science Science & Medicine Academic Adventures Community Service Language Immersion Culture & Arts Professional Development REGION Africa and Egypt Asia Australia and Pacific Caribbean Central America Europe North America South America

Tropical Ecology and Biodiversity

COURSE DESCRIPTION

On this three week course, students will study animal and plant biodiversity as well as cultural approaches to conservation and sustainable practices. Students will participate in lectures, discussions with local stakeholders, field activities, as well as ongoing service work at the research stations. Students will learn overland survey techniques for mammals and birds. Students will visit and study at the Tiputini Biodiversity Station in the Amazon, the Galapagos Academic Institute for the Arts and Sciences on San Cristobal, and take a two day hike through the Andes mountains for a comparison of three ecological zones, all with differing challenges, each in different stages of development.

“The people you meet on this trip are invaluable if you are pursuing a career in biology or conservation. ” — Danielle Barbiero, Brockport, NY

COURSE OBJECTIVES

• Understand the process of communication in order to effectively communicate the diversity of Ecuadorian conservation theories.
• Describe the biochemical nature of the environment, and explain the inter-linkages between Andean, Amazonian, and Galapagos ecosystems.
• Understand the potential benefits provided by the three eco-environments, as well as the threats to those environments.
• Understand some of the reasons why the threats to Ecuadorian resources are difficult to control in political and environmental contexts.
• Explain a historical perspective of environmentally protected area programs in Ecuador, and to identify existing issues.
• Understand the rationale for and benefits of stakeholder involvement in protected area planning and management, as well as the requirements for implementing and facilitating effective participatory processes.
• Convey the message that research and monitoring is essential for good management and stewardship.
• Perform and understand standard monitoring methods.

LECTURE TOPICS

• Ecuadorian geography, history & culture.
• Characteristics of tropical environments.
• Andes Mountains: Natural history.
• Andean climate regimes and ecosystems.
• Plant & animal biodiversity.
• Rainforest communities & nutrient cycling.
• Evolutionary theory & population genetics.
• Research field methods. Deforestation and its impacts.
• Oceanographic characteristics of the Galapagos.
• Human impacts on Galapagos biodiversity.
• Conservation: Galapagos Marine Park and National Park

What are my next steps?

At a Glance