Ecology, Behavior & Conservation of Marine Mammals, A Unique Field
Course in the Drowned Cayes, Belize
DATES: May 26 - June 8, 2010 (inclusive of travel)
INSTRUCTORS: Caryn Self-Sullivan, Ph.D.1, 2, Bruce A. Schulte,
Ph.D.4, Katherine S. LaCommare, M.S., ABD 2,3
LOCATION: Spanish Bay Conservation & Research Center at HP Adventure
Lodge, <http://belizeadventurelodge.com/>http://belizeadventurelodge.com/
COSTS: $2595 includes, housing, meals, field trips, ground & water
transfer fees, research & materials fees; DOES NOT include airfare,
books, tips, or credit hours
DEADLINES: Early Registration ($50 Discount) & and Deposit due March 1st, 2010
MINIMUM / MAXIMUM CLASS SIZE: 8-24 students
REGISTRATION:
<http://www.sirenian.org/CourseSyllabus2010.html>http://www.sirenian.org/CourseSyllabus2010.html
Want to be a Marine Mammal Biologist? Or a Behavioral Ecologist?
Here's your chance to join our research team for two intense weeks of
total immersion into the world of Animal Behavior, Antillean
manatees, bottlenose dolphins in Belize! You will become totally
immersed into island living, the study of ethology (animal behavior)
and the biology of manatees and dolphins through lectures and
learning activities, literature review, debate, projects, and field
research. This unique field course combines an overview of the
ecology, behavior, and conservation of sirenians and cetaceans with
hands-on manatee & dolphin research in the Drowned Cayes, Belize.
You'll spend 3-4 hours on the water each day learning about the
environment as we explore a labyrinth of mangrove islands, seagrass
beds, and coral patches searching for elusive manatees and
charismatic dolphins. You'll collect behavioral and environmental
data and learn about photo-id techniques; you'll develop a Fact Sheet
or Activity Booklet about a related topic to be published by the Hugh
Parkey Foundation for Marine Awareness & Education and/or Sirenian
International. Extra-curricular activities include diving or
snorkeling at Turneffe Atoll, and exploring an ancient Maya
City. This unique course has a work load equivalent to 4 university
credit hours and is divided into 4 major components: lectures and
learning activities (~1 hour per day), independent reading and
assignments (~2 hour per day), data collection in the field (~4 hours
per day), project development (~1 hours per day) and debate/group
discussion of reading materials (~1 hours per day). Want credit
towards your degree? No problem! Sign up for independent study with
an advisor at your school and pay the appropriate fees. The course
has 70 contact hours and is comparable to a 4 credit university
course. Just have you advisor contact Dr. Self-Sullivan
(<mailto:[email protected]>[email protected])
to discuss the requirements for credit. Remember, if you are
interested in getting independent study credit for this course at
your school, you must make arrangements IN ADVANCE with BOTH your
advising faculty and the course instructor. Credit hour fees must be
paid directly to your school and you must fulfill any Study Abroad
requirements at your school.
COURSE CONTENT OVERVIEW (Lectures & Learning Activities)
The Order Sirenia: Manatees and Dugongs of the World
The Order Cetacea: Whales and Dolphins of the World
The Local Research Project: Manatee & Dolphins of the Drowned Cayes
Animal Behavior: Ethology and Behavioral Ecology - The Scientific Perspectives
Ecology - Interactions between Manatees, Dolphins, and their Environment
Marine Mammals under Human Care in Zoos and Oceanariums
Marine Mammal Science: Research Design, Data Collection Methods,
Analysis of Data, and Interpretation of Results
Marine Mammal Conservation and Advocacy: The Status of Extant Marine
Mammal Species
RESOURCES
We recommend two books (optional) as primary resources on manatees
and dolphins:
The Florida Manatee: Biology and Conservation, by Roger L. Reep and
Robert K. Bonde, University Press of Florida
The Bottlenose Dolphin: Biology and Conservation, by John E.
Reynolds, Samantha D. Eide, and Randall S. Wells, University Press of Florida
A selection of primary literature will be sent to you in electronic
format in advance of the course. Students are required to print out
these articles and bring them with them to Belize.
There is also a library of books and archived journals, including
Society of Marine Mammalogy, Animal Behavior, and Conservation
Biology journals, in our library onsite in Belize.
COURSE FEE & ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The course fee of $2595 includes all transportation, course, field
trip, and living expenses from your arrival at the PWG airport in
Belize on May 26th to your departure on June 8th. You are responsible
for tips, insurance, and round-trip airfare to Belize (BZE).
REGISTER EARLY: SAVE $100 WHEN YOU REGISTER and PAY IN FULL BY March 1st
SAVE $50 WHEN YOU REGISTER and PAY DEPOSIT BY March 1st
To register for course, please visit
<http://www.sirenian.org/CourseSyllabus2010.html>http://www.sirenian.org/CourseSyllabus2010.html
For more information on the course, please email
<mailto:[email protected]>[email protected] or
<mailto:[email protected]>[email protected]
1 Dr. Caryn Self-Sullivan is a Visiting Assistant Professor at
Georgia Southern University.
4 Dr. Bruce Schulte is a Professor and Department Head at Western
Kentucky University.
3 Katherine LaCommare is a Ph.D. Candidate at the University of
Massachusetts, Boston, and an instructor at Lansing Community College
in Michigan.
2 Caryn and Katie are the co-founders of Sirenian International.
1, 4 For more information on the instructors, please visit
<http://sirenian.org/caryn.html>http://sirenian.org/caryn.html and
<http://bioweb.wku.edu/faculty/Schulte/Default.asp>http://bioweb.wku.edu/faculty/Schulte/Default.asp
For more information on the facilities, please visit
<http://belizeadventurelodge.com/>http://belizeadventurelodge.com/
Download a Course Flyer at
<http://sirenian.org/CourseFlyer2010.pdf>http://sirenian.org/CourseFlyer2010.pdf
Cheers,
Caryn Self-Sullivan, Ph.D.
President & Co-founder, Sirenian International
Visiting Assistant Professor, Georgia Southern University
Mobile: 540.287.8207 | Fax: 540.242.9196
Email: <mailto:[email protected]>[email protected] or
<mailto:[email protected]>[email protected]
