Animal Behavior in the Galápagos Islands - Cancelled for Winter Break 2011

Director:  Matt Rand

The Galápagos Islands are one of the few places on earth where large animals (especially birds) do not possess an innate fear of potential predators.  This unusual behavioral pattern coupled with the amazing abundance and diversity of the island fauna, create an extremely unique opportunity to observe, characterize, and record animal behavior under natural conditions.  It is often said that the Galápagos are a laboratory of evolutionary biology; however, we will see that these islands provide one of the best outdoor laboratories of animal behavior.  Students will bring video recording equipment and each of several small groups will produce a video documentary of animal behavior in the Galápagos Islands.