BIOL 425 - Tropical Rainforest and Reef Ecology

Credit Hours: 4

The objectives of this experiential course are to survey biodiversity and provide understanding of ecological principles in tropical habitats through physical involvement with the environment. 2 co-instructors will lead students on a 10-12 day excursion in forest and reef habitats of the Neotropics, providing natural history instruction and interpretation. Participants will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the subject by walking forest paths, swimming forest streams, spelunking caves, paddling mangrove swamps, combing beaches, and snorkeling coral reefs. A species list of plants and animals will be assembled for each habitat and readings from the scientific literature, appropriate to the region, will be assigned for analysis and discussion.