Winter Break: Field Investigation in Tropical Rainforest Ecology

Courses

Fall term 2008: BIOL 361 Tropical Rainforest Ecology

The tropical rainforests contain most of the earth's species, but have been less studied than many other biological communities. Recently there has been a dramatic increase in ecological investigations in the tropics, and the goal of this course is to survey the most contemporary and influential published work in rainforest ecology. Topics to be emphasized include the latitudinal gradient in species diversity, evolutionary ecology, and interactions between species.

Prerequisites: Biology 352 or other ecology course work and permission of the instructor. 6 credits, MS, Offered in alternate years.

Winter Break Field Trip to Costa Rica & winter term 2009: BIOL 362

This course begins with a two-week visit in December to the La Selva Biological Station near Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica. The station is located in lowland rainforest and has been the site of many important ecological experiments. While at La Selva, the class will perform extensive field experiments planned during Biology 361. In regular meetings during the term, data will be analyzed and presented in oral and written reports.

Prerequisites: Biology 361 and permission of the instructor. Does not count toward the Biology major. 6 credits, MS, Offered in alternate years.

Entry into the program is by application, and requires some upper-level coursework in ecology (at Carleton, this would include Ecosystems Ecology or Population Ecology). Ecology course taken elsewhere might be considered for the prerequisite as well.