Climate Change in Tropical Systems: Nicaragua and Costa Rica:
28th December – 17th January 2012
Climate Change makes for a major topic worldwide. While melting ice caps are front news for years, impacts in tropical ecosystems are less known but widely documented by now. The tropics are known for their high biodiversity and complex ecology. However, the actual biodiversity and climate change impacts have not been fully assessed. It is not well mapped and the overall ecology and adaptation is not well understood. Climate change and man-made pressures create so many additional risks which must be prioritized. Accurate inventories, surveying and mapping of the abundance of tropical wildlife and plant species to address issues of climate change and affected changes in distribution, diversity and population demography can be very demanding. But it contributes to the sustainable management of these precious resources while ecological services decline. This course will be centered around the exploration of selected biodiversity components and how they react to man-made climate change. This course will develop methods how components of tropical biodiversity and ecology could be described, surveyed, mapped, analyzed and managed efficiently in times of an ecological crisis. While climate change is the overall scheme, this course content is driven by the participants and deals primarily with mammals, birds, insects, amphibians & reptiles, plants and their habitats. Social aspects are also implemented, and when possible. The field component of this course attempts to expolore, describe, and map relevant infrastructure. It uses GPS (Global Position Systems) and GIS (Geographic Information Systems) software (ArcGIS 9.3, Google Earth and open source mapping software). In lecture, tropical ecology subjects related to climate change will be presented and investigated while addressing habitat & landscape aspects as well as ecological niche questions. This course is part of a long-term research project by the instructor, and it is designed for undergraduate and graduate students as an introduction into detailed climate change related wildlife distribution and habitat studies. A background in basic biogeography, atmospheric sciences, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing, databases and software is advantageous but not required. The course will allow for a solid overview of climate change in the tropics, wildlife ecology, distribution shifts, existing survey, spatial statistics and monitoring methods, tropical weather, and wildlife-habitat links. Hands-on fieldwork, surveys, mapping, temperature and humidity measures, as well as selected species identification and social science interview applications are a crucial component of this field course.
Course Materials:
International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). 4th Assessment Report. http://www.ipcc.ch/
(digital version suffices; print-out would be best. Selected internet is available for student use at field site used during the course)
Kricher, J. (& M. Plotkin). 1999. A Neotropical Companion: An Introduction to the Animals, Plants, and Ecosystems of the New World Tropics. Second Edition. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-009740 (required AND recommended reading before class) (c. $25 on Amazon)
Krebs, C. 1998. Ecological Methodology. Addison Wesley Longman. Second Edition. 620 pp.
(available for student use at field site used during the course)
Other references of interest:
Brown, J. and A. Gibson 1983. Biogeography. CV Mosby USA. 643 pp. ISBN 0878930736
Feinsinger, P. 2001. Designing Field Studies for Biodiversity Conservation. Island Press, New York. 212 pp.
Giles, E. and C. Ziegler. 2002. A Magic Web: the Tropical Forest of Barro Colorado Island. OUP, New York. 304 pp.
Howell, S. and S. Webb. 1995. A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America. Oxford University Press. New York, NY 851. pp. (used during the course)
Manly, B., L. McDonald, D. L. Thomas, T. L. McDonald, and W. P. Erickson. 2002. Resource Selection by Animals. Kluwer Academic Publishers.
McDade, L.A., K.S. Bawa, H.A. Hespenheide and G.S. Harthorn. 1993. La Selva: Ecology and Natural History of a Neotropical Rain Forest. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0-226-03950-1.
Quinn, G.P. and M. J. Keough. 2002. Experimental Design and Data Analysis for Biologists. Cambridge University Press. 537 pp. ISBN 0-521-00976-6
Reid, F.A. 1998. A Field Guide to the Mammals of Central America & Southeast Mexico. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-195-06401-1.
Ross, D. L. and B. M. Whitney. 1995. Voices of Costa Rican birds: Caribbean Slope. Cornell Lab LNS. 2 cassettes or CDs.
Soto, V.E. 2003. Guia de Campo Ilustrada de las Aves de Costa Rica (An Illustrated Field Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica) Incafo, Costa Rica S.A. ISBN 84-89127-39-5.
Stiles, G., A. Skutch and D. Gardner. 1989. A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica. Cornell University Press. Ithaca, NY. 509 pp. ISBN 0-8014-2287-6.
Objectives:
To explore man-made climate change in the tropics of Central America, and to investigate the spatial aspects of tropical ecology in Nicaragua and Costa Rica by assessing biodiversity components and analysing them in the context of the surrounding habitat, social and biological features on land, in freshwater and coasts (Pacific and the Caribbean).
Field Methods:
A general overview and specific research methods are presented to study and describe climate change, survey biodiversity distributions and populations efficiently, carry out interviews, and to present such data with a thorough research analysis in public, online and open access for a global audience.
Characterization of Habitat:
We will describe and inventory habitat, as it relates to tropical wildlife and climate change. An emphasis is given on quantitative, interview and mapping approaches taking species, habitat preferences and social context into account.
Wildlife Habitat Studies for Management and Conservation:
We will show methods to investigate wildlife distribution, and present how they can be implemented in the context of management and conservation.
Lecture Topics:
-Introduction to Tropical Forest Ecology and Tropical Climates
-Introduction to Climate Change and IPCC
-Selected Biogeography Topics and Climate Change induced Biome Shifts
-Survey Methods and Mapping of Wildlife Distributions and Biomes
-Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and digital databases
-Global Positioning Systems (GPS)
-Quantifying Biodiversity & Wildlife Distributions, Habitats and Landscapes
-Selected statistical issues for Climate Change, Wildlife Surveys and Distribution
-Climate Change: Natural Fluctuations, the Past and the Future
-Specific Biodiversity and Management issues for the Tropics
-Case Study: Neotropical Migrants in a Warming World
-Being a Graduate Student in an Ecology Research Project abroad
-Tropical Ecology Research Experience elsewhere (Papua New Guinea, Africa)
-Legal Aspects of Climate Change: Rio, the Kyoto Protocol, Global Governance, Class Action Law Suits and the World Court of Environmental Justice
- Guest lectures given by TAs and others on selected topics of interest
Independent Projects:
The focus of this course component, and while in the field, is to design and to carry out an innovative and original research project on climate change in the tropics. It is ideal to have a project idea in mind before field school and discuss it with the instructor. A scientifically sound project proposal will be outlined during the first week. The project outline and final results will be presented to the class; a final report (or powerpoint presentation) will be written as well and with digital data and metadata. The project presents a major component of the class.
Potential project topics could be, but are not limited to:
-Do Tropical Biomes shift during Climate Change ?
-Impacts of Sea Level Rise in coastal tropical ecosystems
-Social Systems of the Tropics: What will be Climate Change effects ?
-‘Best Practices’ in Tropical Research for Climate Change questions
-Local and general Wildlife Distribution Assessment
-Mapping and prediction of plants and wildlife, e.g. birds, monkeys, treefrogs and blue morpho
butterflies
-Abundance and Population Estimations for Climate Change impacts
-Sampling Design, Effort, and Sensitivity for Long-term Studies
-Distribution of Ecological Niches
-Invasive and Endemic Species
-Community Analysis and Ecological Classifications (e.g. Biomes)
Exam:
Based on the lecture topics, an exam will be carried out that consists of 20 multiple choice and 5 written questions. The focus of this exam is less on memorizing facts but more on testing for the overall ecological understanding the students were able to achieve during the course and fieldwork. This exam will be held at the last quarter of the course.
General Daily Schedule:
Sunrise - 11:00 Field work (breakfast 6:30)
11:00 - 13:00 lunch and free time
13:00 - 13:30 Short lecture
14:00 - 17:30 Field work, or lab
18:00 Dinner
19:00 - 20:15 Lecture and group discussion
20:15 – 22:00 Field book updates, and free time
There will also be the option to participate in night excursions to investigate nocturnal birds, insects, mammals and amphibians, study them and map their distributions. This has been a very exciting feature in previous classes.
Note: This schedule can be affected by weather and others factors, and could change.
Course Schedule:
December 27th, Day 1 Fly into Managua, Nicaragua
December 28th, Day 2 Travel to Ometepe Island, Arrival and Orientation
December 29th, Day 3 Introduction to Field School and Study Sites, Wildlife Walk’ and Climate Change
December 30th, Day 4 Ometepe: Project Design and Project Research (Pilot), Design Field
and Interview Sheets.
December 31st, Day 5 Ometepe: Project Research, GPS and GIS + lab, iBUTTON lab
January 1st, Day 6 Ometepe: Project Research, Bird Identification Day + lab
January 2st, Day 7 Ometepe: Project Research, Amphibian & Reptile Identification Day + lab
January 3st, Day 8 Travel early to the Pacific Astillero beach overnight, Field Work.
January 4st, Day 9 Leave Astillero after lunch/overnight Granada.
January 5st, Day 10 Granada/San Carlos, Solentiname Island, overnight ferry tentative due to
weather or via bus, San Jose/Braulio Carrillo National Park cloud forest.
Selected field work along the way.
January 6st, Day 11 La Suerte: Introduction to Field School and Study Sites, Wildlife Walk’
January 7st, Day 12 La Suerte: Research Project, Insect Identification Day + lab
January 8st, Day 13 La Suerte: Project Research, Plant & Tree Identification Day + lab
January 9st, Day 14 La Suerte: Project Research
January 10st, Day 15 Caribbean trip to Tortuguero, Field work, overnight.
January 11st, Day 16 Tortuguero: Project Research; check iBUTTON and climate data
January 12st, Day 17 La Suerte: Project Research
January 13st, Day 18 La Suerte: Project Research
January 14st, Day 19 La Suerte: Project Research, Final Project & Data Presentations
January 15st, Day 20 La Suerte: Submit Written Research Paper, End-of-Course Party
January 16th, Day 21 Travel to San Jose, see San Jose city, INBIO biodiversity center etc
January 17th, Day 22 Fly out from San Jose:
Note: This schedule can be affected by weather and others factors, and could change.
Grades:
25% Attendance, attention, attitude, enthusiasm and cooperation 1.)
10% Lecture exam 2.)
25% Journal 3.)
25% Research Project (Final presentation and report) 4.)
5% Presentation contrasting two research articles 5.)
10% Labs 6.)
1.) For successful expeditions and field work such traits are crucial.
2.) One lecture exam will cover the formal lecture material.
3.) A journal and fieldnotes (e.g. digital raw data and metadata) are very important features to document findings and research results. It consists of a narrative, as well as specific research results and descriptions and drawings of the environment. Ideas and questions can also be noted. Daily records should consist of date, time, weather and research activities and data. Identified and counted wildlife and animal species should be listed as well, including all other noteworthy findings. This information can form the basis for digital project databases, e.g. in Excel and with FGDC NBII Metadata.
4.) This course will allow to implement an original research project of own design. A research proposal (required but not marked) will be discussed, which will be critiqued by the instructor and course members on the subjects of research design, analysis and feasibility. Based on a final project presentation to the class, a final presentation will be handed in.
5.) Every student is asked to compare and contrast two selected research articles on his/her own choice. A research library dealing with subjects of the course is available, too.
6.) During the course, some small field labs will be carried out.
Course Goals:
After the completion of the course, participants should be able to understand IPCC and Climate Change issues in the tropics and elsewhere. This course should allow to design their own quantitative wildlife survey and research study, use a GPS in the field, map data with a GIS, and describe the general ecology and social systems, habitat, wildlife-habitat links, climate and overall populations in qualitative and quantitative terms. Being able to handle climate data and the use of iBUTTONs makes for an essential part of the class. Students should be able to identify common wildlife and plant species features of the tropical rainforest in Central America.
Optional Field Trip:
Participants will have the opportunity to participate in a field excursion to see other forests and nesting turtles; details depend on weather and locations. The excursion is optional and will cost an extra fee.
Things to bring:
The fieldschool maintains a list of items to bring, e.g. at their website. If you have a laptop, please bring one (PC IBM preferred, Microsoft/OpenOffice Office software and R would be ideal). For details, contact fieldschool or instructor.
Conduct:
It is expected that participants follow the Policies and Procedures outlined by the La Suerte Field Station. Details are outlined in the registration package and online.
Research Data and Publication Policy:
It is expected that all collected field data are worked up and analyzed according to best professional research standards such as the National Science Foundation (NSF) and IPCC. As outlined there, this includes data sharing online and with metadata. Climate data will be covered also. Examples of such projects and data can be found at the station’s website, with the National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII website), with GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Infrastructure), with IPCC and with the instructor. It is likely that some of the projects and data can be used for a forthcoming book publication (authorships as got data collected).
Credits:
Students can receive and transfer various types of credits for this class. Details depend on the college and university involved. Please contact the field school and instructor for details and arrangements.
Other opportunities:
The course will provide a great opportunity for dynamic and hard working but fun people, who are interested in modern tropical research, climate change and conservation with a focus on transparent and quantitative, spatial, GPS & GIS methods, climate analysis and human society contexts. Some of the projects resulted into scientific publications, co-authored conference presentations, and online research and biodiversity data publications. Please inquire with the instructor for specific details.