Tropical Biology - San Salvador 2011

Pre/Co-requisites:
Oceanic Island Ecology Biology 319 and Permission of Instructor

Instructors:	Office	Phone	Email Address
Dr. Charles Booth	Science 357	860-465-5260	booth@easternct.edu
Dr. Ross Koning	Science 356	860-465-5327 860-933-2712	koning@easternct.edu

Course Objectives:
The 2011 announcement is available for our May 2011 trip. Tropical Biology--San Salvador provides students with an opportunity to study first-hand the biology of tropical terrestrial and marine ecosystems. It involves an intensive ten-day field experience on San Salvador Island, Bahamas. While on the island, students will keep a field notebook that includes descriptions of their daily field and class experiences. Nightly discussions will be held to recap each day's observations. After returning from San Salvador, students will turn in papers based upon their field experiences and library-research that focus upon the terrestrial and marine ecosystems of San Salvador.

Required Text:
Kaplan, E. H. 1988. Southeastern and Caribbean Seashores. Peterson Field Guide Series. Houghton-Mifflin, Boston. 425 pp.

PLUS ONE of the following (your choice, complement with two friends):

Chaplin, C. G. and P. Scott. 1972. Fishwatchers Guide to West Atlantic Coral Reefs. Livingston Publishing Co., Wynnewood, PA. 65 pp.

Kaplan, E. H. 1982. A Field Guide to Coral Reefs of the Caribbean and Florida Including Bermuda and the Bahamas. Peterson Field Guide Series. Houghton-Mifflin Co., Boston. 289 pp.

Littler, D. S., M. M. Littler, K. E. Bucher, and J. N. Norris. 1989. Marine Plants of the Caribbean. Smithsonian Institution. Airlife Publishing, Shrewsbury. England. 263 pp.

Resources:
What to Bring
Flight Information
Climate Information
Tide Table
2011 Essay Questions
Terrestrial Dune Transect Survey
Marine Intertidal Transect Survey
Some historical documents as well:

Requirements:
Because of the unique nature of a field course, its success depends on the full cooperation and participation of everyone involved. Participants are expected to have an attitude of responsibility, curiosity, and commitment. They will adhere to the following requirements:

1. All students enroll for Biology 320 (Tropical Biology) for the Spring 2011 semester.
2. Students pay the necessary course fees ($1800 total) in full by the designated deadlines.
3. Students must complete and submit the required Global Field Course paperwork and Gerace Research Centre paper by May 1, 2011.
4. Students must adhere to policies and requirements for Field Courses at ECSU and to the policies and requirements of the Gerace Research Centre.
5. Students must appear on time at the airport, and punctually for all course activities while on the island.
6. Students will prepare the required papers and submit them by the deadline: July 11, 2011.
7. Students who fail to complete this course and its required papers with a grade of C- or better may not be allowed to use Bio 3119/320 to meet the upper level biology course requirements.

Supplemental Readings:
Carlquist, S. 1981. Chance Dispersal. Scientific American. 69: 509-516.
Case, T.J. and M.L. Cody. 1987. Testing theories of island biogeography. Amer.Sci. 75: 402-411.
Goreau, T.F., N.I. Goreau, and T.J. Goreau. 1979. Corals and coral reefs. Sci. Amer. 241(2): 124-136.
Sealey, N. 1998. Bahamian Landscapes. 3rd ed. Chapter 1. Media Publishing, Nassau, Bahamas.

Additional references pertaining to the assigned essays and field report will also be posted at http://plantphys.info.

Grading:
The course grade for BIO 320 will be based on participation in the field and participation in class discussions while on San Salvador (20%), and the quality of the essays submitted upon your return (80%).

Accessibility:
If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations for this class, it is your responsibility to contact the Office of AccessAbility Services at (860) 465-5573. To avoid any delay in the receipt of accommodations, you should contact the Office of AccessAbility Services as soon as possible. Please note that we cannot provide accommodations based upon disability until we have received an accommodation letter from the Office of AccessAbility Services. Your cooperation is appreciated. As BIO 320 Tropical Biology - San Salvador is a field course conducted in a foreign country, it may or may not be possible to provide suitable accommodations, so your earliest attention to accessibility issues is strongly encouraged.

This page © Ross E. Koning 1994.

Go to the Course Schedule Page.

Go to the Plant Physiology Information Homepage.

Send comments and bug reports to Ross Koning at rkoning@snet.net.