Below are some of the courses we are currently offering at our field sites. For even more detailed descriptions please download our course packet. Click on the course title to request detailed information on the course, correspond with the professor, or request an application.
This course is designed to be an extensive look at how primates adapt to their
ecosystems both by physical characteristics and by various means of behavior. This course will also give students experience and training doing primate ethology in the field. We have the unique ability in this course to experience the ecosystem these animals live in. Through this, was can better understand both the structural and behavioral adaptations made by the primates we study. We will learn rain forest ecology and see how the ecosystem is delicately balanced with each species carving out a special niche. In this course, we will be covering the basic tenants of primatology in lectures and combining this with field research. Students will learn field research techniques as they relate to studying primates in the wild. Students will also create their own research projects which they will complete by the end of class.
Advanced Primate Behavior & Ecology
This course is intended for advanced students of primate behavior who wish to delve deeper into specific field techniques and primate research. A great emphasis is placed on individual research projects, their execution, and their presentation. Topics may include: methods of vegetation sampling in tropical rainforests, methods of collecting information on temporal changes in resource availability in the rainforest, mapping a field site, and methods of collecting data on the behavior and ecology of free-ranging nonhuman primates.
Primate communication is a 2 week exploration into the means in which primates transmit information to each other. We will study the principles which govern zoosemiotics (animal communication) and take these principles into the field where we will observe the phenomena of primate communication in the wild. What we will observe will include gestural communication, vocal communication, olfactory communication, as well as lesser known forms of primate communication. We will learn the techniques in recording calls as well as analyzing calls through spectral readings.
The course is a hands-on field experience to familiarize students with the diversity of life in the rainforest while developing a deeper understanding of tropical forest ecology and conservation. With a combination of lectures and fieldwork, time is spent on studying the diverse fauna in a tropical forest through various ecological sampling methods. Through on-site research projects students will build a foundation of skills and knowledge that are applicable to more specialized coursework or field research in primates, botany, herpetology, entomology, etc. We will focus on ecological research, behavior, and quantitative natural history of the more commonly encountered organisms.
Tropical Herpetology is a course that is designed to introduce students to the study of reptiles and amphibians, with emphasis on field biology, ethology and other topics that are relevant to the tropics. The species of Costa Rica will be examined in detail as representative of a tropical herpetofauna, but many of the principles discussed are broadly applicable. This course that assumes some familiarity with vertebrate biology. It is intended to complement, and not replace, a course in general herpetology; however, a general herpetology course is not a prerequisite for the present course.
This course offers a world class opportunity to study the unique elfin forest in Nicaragua. This forest is part of the famous Cloud Forests, which are fascinating habitats that are globally endangered. These mountain forests are inherently cool and rainy, representing unique ‘sky islands’ with a high proportion of endemic species, many not even described to science, yet. The course objectives are to document and quantitatively inventory, for the first time, the existing biodiversity of this habitat located at app. 1000m altitude. The Maderas volcano offers a unique altitudinal gradient and mountain top to assess this tropical mountain wilderness, but also human impacts including climate change and invasive species. This course teaches expedition skills, and makes use of the nearby Ometepe field station as our base. The sophisticated field work is based on well-planned individual student research projects, and includes two steep hikes to the Elfin Forest that are physically demanding and require to be in a good health condition (similar to mid-distance running) and being able to sustain two sessions of 2-3 days of continuous field work on the volcano; basic data skills and a good team spirit are essential.
This course is designed to provide a detailed knowledge of Neotropical bats within an ecological framework. Extensive capturing of bats during nightly field excursions will supplement lecture material; provide opportunity for gaining extensive experience in capture techniques and identification of bats in hand, and lay the groundwork for individual research problems and projects. The class will take place on Ometepe Island, a volcanic island in Lake Nicaragua. As a class we will camp in the cloud forest and survey bats at higher elevations for at least one night.The end of the class will include a visit to Masaya Volcano National Park where we will observe a large nightly emergence of bats from a cave and we will explore the local culture of the historic city of Granada.
This seminar-style and field-based course explores the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems of the tropics, focusing predominantly on the lowland tropical rain forests, but also examining other tropical biomes such as coral reefs, mangroves, montane cloud forests, savannas, and tropical dry forests. We will examine the biological and ecological processes that influence ecosystem dynamics and biodiversity within representative biomes. We will discuss issues of conservation, sustainable development and resource use, and the human impact on these fragile ecosystems.
The rainforest is teeming with life; but most of it lacks relevant information readily available online. Following the world famous INBIO/CONABIO, GBIF and WEB2 concepts, this course presents for the first time a connection between fieldwork, biodiversity, tropical ecology, computing and internet opportunities. The course objectives are to describe and inventory the existing biodiversity of the La Suerte field station for future generations, based on exciting hands-on fieldwork, individual tropical research projects and digital (online) databases. In addition, a high amount of historical data exist for the site and can also be used for a modern work-up and analysis. Located in the heart of the famous Atlantic low elevation rainforest, the field site at La Suerte offers a unique global role model blessed with one of the highest biodiversity of the planet. Making use of available internet connections and computers, students of this course will learn how to make efficient use of existing Bioinformatics methodologies and how to apply them right in the field! Using the collected field data, this course deals specifically with FGDC NBII Metadata (xml and html), ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System), Genbank, GOOGLE Earth and GIS mapping, Satellite Imagery, data mining and global web-portal and museum harvests. Related policies such as outlined in the Rio convention, SCAR, GBIF, CODATA/NSF and OECD, as well as global conservation monitoring and management are also covered (including tropical diseases). Downloading information, research articles and uploading achieved data and results for a global audience makes for an inherent goal of this class. This course is well suited for the beginner as well as for the advanced scholar of a modern tropical ecology, and it can be used for reports, (online/peer-reviewed) publications and graduate projects.
Rainforest Ecology: Entomology
The course is a hands-on field experience to familiarize students with the diversity of life in the rainforest while developing a deeper understanding of tropical forest ecology and conservation. With a combination of lectures and fieldwork, time is spent on studying the diverse fauna in a tropical forest through various ecological sampling methods. Through on-site research projects students will build a foundation of skills and knowledge that are applicable to more specialized coursework or field research in primates, botany, herpetology, entomology, etc. We will focus on ecological research, behavior, and quantitative natural history of the more commonly encountered organisms
Rainforest Ecology: Ornithology
This course is designed to familiarize students in neotropical ecology, especially as it pertains to neotropical birds and the conservation of neotropical birds. Students will become familiar with basic concepts of ecology and avian biology. They will also be instructed on aspects of biogeography and neotropical avian ecology and behavioral ecology. All students will develop, design, and conduct an independent research project. Projects will be written up and presented to the class. To this end, all students will be introduced to ecological sampling techniques and simple data analyses.
The course will cover primarily the medicinal plants of the area, although plants from other areas such as the Amazon will also be discussed. The course will include:
· Identification of some of the commonly used medicinal plants.
· Methods of preparation, including teas, decoctions, tinctures and salves.
· Medical conditions and diseases for which the various plants are used.
· The chemical structure and mode of action of selected medicinal plants.
It is also designed to give students hands-on experience in the search for medicinal plants in the Neotropics. Techniques for characterization of the forest and map making will be learned. The course will consist of lectures and field work, with field work representing a large portion of the course.
Comparative skeletal anatomy and function
The two week course is on skeletal anatomy of human and non-human skeletons, including monkeys. A significant portion of the course will be hands-on and students will learn the structure of various mammalian, bird, and reptilian skeletons, and observe the relationship between the bone structure and function. The course includes relevant activities such as observing monkeys and domesticated animals living in Ometepe. Comparative skeletal anatomy has numerous applications in veterinary medicine, bioarchaeology, paleoanthropology, forensic anthropology, primatology, and functional anatomy.
The veterinary field medicine course is intended to give experience to veterinary students experience in doing field work in a third world nation. Students will assist the veterinary instructor in examining local stray populations of animals, spaying and neutering, and helping the local community with livestock issues. Students will also spend time observing the wildlife of the area and learning about the ecology of the flora and fauna of the area. This intensive two week course is a tremendous asset to the community. Students can be rewarded that their work in this course reaps a tremendous positive impact on the local area.
The Photographic Workshop in the Neotropics offers students an amazing chance to explore Central America. The expedition begins in the Nicaraguan capital of Managua and concludes in the historic Costa Rican city of San Jose. Along the way, a photographic experience unfolds for each participant as we explore and move through a variety of environments and cultures. The primary goal of the workshop is to promote the learning and sharing of knowledge through the lens of the camera. Students from a wide variety of academic and personal backgrounds can and do apply individual interests to the subject matter we encounter, with generally stellar results. Instruction is individually tailored to address aspects of photographic fundamentals, workflow, and portfolio development. No prior knowledge or experience in photography is necessary, but a single lens reflex (SLR) digital camera — and most importantly a sense of adventure — are required.
This course will focus on the creation of artwork utilizing locally available materials and ecologically benign methods. For artists this is a unique opportunity to explore the lowland tropical rainforest, to experience this vital ecosystem not only intellectually, but on tactile and visceral levels as well. Work will arise from personal interactions with the local environment, and students are encouraged to experiment with new forms of artistic expression and media.
There will be technical demonstrations including the following:
-processing clay & adobe for sculpting
-weaving cordage from plant fibers and vines
-bamboo
-rubber tapping
-natural inks, dyes, and charcoal
-fashioning pens & brushes
-the artistic utilization of other natural resources
The course provides an opportunity to experience the food and culture of Costa Rica by learning about local ingredients and preparation techniques. We will also visit farms and plantations to see how many of these ingredients are grown and harvested. On the way to La Suerte, we will visit Poás Volcano and the Doka coffee plantation. While we are at La Suerte we will visit a number of local farms and plantations in order to become more familiar with the foods grown in the region and how they are used in cooking. We will learn how to use these ingredients as we take part in preparing meals at la Suerte. The class will finish up with a trip to the beach to rest, relax, and reflect on what we’ve learned. (The 3 r’s of a great learning experience.) No previous culinary or foodservice experience is necessary, just a desire to learn and a willingness to participate.
Please direct inquiries about this class to Jane Valentine (JValentine@parkland.edu).
Dance Workshop in the Rainforest
Explore this rich environment to engage sensory awareness,
source movement vocabulary, and create dance structures. Movement improvisation and sensory awareness exercises will provide the foundation of this workshop.
Intentional movement practices such as yoga, movement meditation, Tai Chi, and Authentic Movement will establish a base of inner awareness and physical discipline from which to unfold a creative relationship with this unique place. Dance structures will grow out of daily experiences inspired by the rainforest environment and our engagement with it.
This "Eco Challenge Trip" is designed for adventurous people who like to participate in challenging physical activities. Some of the planned activities include, mountain biking, kayaking, hiking rough terrain such as extinct volcanoes, swimming, local outdoor market shopping, walking around colonial cities, and going to fresh water beaches.