NORTH SHORE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL SCIENCES
BIO 130: NEOTROPICAL ECOLOGY
SPRING 2005
TIME/LOCATION:Spring 2005 / Costa Rica
INSTRUCTOR: Madelyn E. Logan
OFFICE:Danvers, DH 124G
Phone: 978-762-4000 Ex 4481
E-mail:
OFFICE HOURS:Fall 2004:
Spring 2005:
NUMBER OF CREDITS:3 credits
PREREQUISITES:Permission of a doctor and instructor. Completion of BIO128 would greatly enhance the experience
COREQUISITES:None
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
This trip involves daily hikes into the rainforests; most of these areas are not handicapped accessible. Although some effort will be made to accommodate the pace, each person must be physically able to walk several miles a day some of it over rough terrain and some of it uphill. It is also important that the student be able to work well as a member of a group. Living and working so closely with others for this time period can be a very intensive experience. Anyone who has a known existing medical condition that may necessitate periodic, unscheduled hospitalization or doctor’s care is strongly discouraged from applying.
No one will be allowed to attend without a signed form from a medical doctor.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:A field study in the rainforests of Central America led by trained naturalists. The course will include hikes into different types of rainforests where the ecology of the area will be studied. The areas explored may be different each trip. (Minimum of 92 hours of field study and 9 hours of lecture before the trip and one 3 hour meeting after the trip.) When taken with BIO 101 and BIO 128 - Ecology of the Rainforest, it will fulfill a year of a laboratory science.
The course is divided into three sessions:
Pre-trip Sessions. These consist of 4 Saturday morning meetings during the Spring 2005 Semester. (The exact dates, times and locations will be announced sometime during November.) The meetings will consist of information about the trip, background information on Costa Rica, some discussions about ecosystems and biodiversity.
Trip Session.
Post-trip Session. This consists of one evaluation meeting during the summer at a time convenient to all participants. Submission of the final report will also occur during this period. (The time for this is determined by the entire class at the end of the trip.)
REQUIRED MATERIALS:
Text: Tropical Natureby Adrian Forsyth and Ken Miyata
Waterproof notebook
Write-in-the-rain pen
Valid passport – Must be valid for at least 6 months from the day we return
Travel items
Camera
Assigned reading packet
Medical Insurance that is valid outside of the country
Costa Rica tour guide book (will be discussed later)
SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS: (Only if desired)
Binoculars
Tape recorder
COURSE RATIONALE:The course will enable the student to experience first hand Biology in action and to become acquainted with life in a tropical rainforest. This experience should increase the awareness of the plight of the rainforests and help him/her better understand the problems involved in saving them. It will also provide the student with an experience in another culture.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:Upon completion of this course, students should be able to
- Describe the differences between a tropical wet forest, a tropical dry forest and a cloud forest.
- Discuss the biodiversity found in the country visited.
- Discuss some adaptive mechanisms found in plants and animals there.
- Discuss conservation methods used in the country visited
- Carefully observe and study surroundings.
- Take accurate notes and observations.
- Keep a daily journal that can be used to write papers.
METHOD OF INSTRUCTION:
There will be 4 meetings before the trip commences. The meetings will include some lectures on basic ecology, information on the areas to be visited, information on traveling and some videos.
During the trip there may be some lectures given and all the hikes are guided. This means that the guide is explaining things as we go.
Students are encouraged to take photographs to enhance what they are seeing.
ATTENDANCE POLICY:Students must attend all pre-trip and post-trip meetings on campus and participate in all of the required academic activities while on the trip. Failure to do so will result in a loss of 5 points for each unexcused absence.
It is expected that admirable behavior will be exhibited at all times throughout the trip. Concern for your fellow classmates and respect for the country you are visiting are important at all times. Anyone who violates either of these may be sent home at his/her own expense.
HOMEWORK:It is expected that students will do all of the assigned readings before the trip begins. The student is also responsible for completing all required forms and for obtaining a passport and international health insurance.
Information on obtaining these is found under Passport Information.
EXAMINATIONS:There will be no quizzes or examinations given.
LABORATORY:This is a field study, which is essentially an outdoor laboratory.
FINAL REPORT:
Journal Assignments: You should keep a daily journal of things you did, things you saw and things you learned. You might also wish to keep track of people you met and anything else you wish to remember. It is easy to forget things when you are experiencing so much! Since you will have to submit your journal to me at the end (It will be returned to you.), you may wish to purchase a second one in which to keep private thoughts. (I do not read the journals. I just check to see that they are done and that they meet minimum requirements.)
Personal Statements: Based upon your journal entries, answer the following questions:
- What impressed you most about Costa Rica?
- What were your best and worst experiences?
- Any surprises or disappointments?
- What did you learn about biodiversity?
- What problems did you uncover? Are there any solutions?
- How would you describe the experience to someone in a few sentences?
Academic Papers: Identify one plant and one animal species that you saw or heard about during the trip. If at all possible, you should include a picture that YOU have taken. You will not be allowed to use one from a book. You should answer the following questions for each:
- What are the common name and scientific name of the organism?
- What is the range and habitat of the species?
- What role does it play in the environment? (What is its niche?)
- Does it have any unique adaptations?
5.What are the threats to its survival?
GRADING:The final grade for the course will be determined as follows:
Daily journal …………. 10%
Group Participation ….. 40%
Final Report …………. 50%
Five points for each absence will be deducted from the final average.
A letter grade will be assigned in accordance with the College's Grading System:
A93 - 100C73 - 76
A-90 - 92C-70 - 72
B+87 - 89D+67 - 69
B83 - 86D63 - 66
B-80 - 82D-60 - 62
C+77 - 79FBelow 60
Please refer to the current College Catalog for a complete description of the College's Grading Policies.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
It is assumed that any student who enrolls in this class will behave in a responsible manner. If not, he/she will be sent home immediately at his/her expense.
Keep in mind that this is a credit course and not a vacation! We will have fun, but you will also receive a grade for the work that you do. You must complete all of the required work. If you do not submit the paper at the end, your grade will be a D. Since you are all receiving 3 credits for this course, you will all be doing the same amount of work. There may be optional hikes that you may wish to take, but the bulk of the trip consists of required hikes.
It is the student's responsibility to retain this course syllabus and other
course materials for future reference, transfer and other purposes.