Dear Student/Colleague Wildlands Studies at California State University Monterey Bay, Extended Education, is offering a six week field program in Baja California, Mexico, from January 6 to February 16. Twelve semester units (18 quarter units) of upper division credit can be earned from California State University Monterey Bay Extended Education. The focus of these courses will be the plant and animal ecology and conservation biology of both the terrestrial and marine environments of the Baja California peninsula, known globally for their striking beauty and diversity in a mosaic of environments, including pristine island ecosystems, marine mammal habitats, coastal lagoons, sonoran desert wildlands, and mountain ranges. During the six week program (actually three separate courses taken concurrently) students will learn how to identify and evaluate Bajas land and sea species/habitats using a variety of field study methods, while gaining an intimate understanding of these species by living and working in close association with them in the field. On land, studies will focus on ecosystems and habitats of the Inland desert, coastal, and mountain areas. In the marine environment, the diverse fish, invertebrate, and flora populations found on sandy beaches, lagoons, and reef environments, on both the Pacific and Gulf coasts, will be examined. In both marine and terrestrial habitats, basic quantitative and descriptive methods for observing organisms and collecting data on their distribution and densities will be used. A project highlight will be the field study of seasonal congregations of migratory Grey whales in Pacific bays and lagoons. Other locations in the Gulf of California will also be explored where many whale, dolphin, seabird, and sea turtle species are found. A third focus of the project will be an on-site examination of the problems faced by conservationists and government agencies working to preserve the regions rich natural environments. The program will be directed by Dr. Stephen Shaner, an ecologist familiar with both the marine and terrestrial environments of the peninsula, and will include talks by other local researchers and conservation officials.
For further information about the Baja California program please visit http://www.wildlandsstudies.com/18.html. Wildlands Studies also offers similar courses throughout the year at various other locations in Africa, Asia, and North and South America. For a full description of these and the program in general, please visit http://www.wildlandsstudies.com Students from other colleges and universities, as well as out-of-state and foreign students are encouraged to apply.
