Panama Coral Reef Ecology Course description.
2012 SUMMER COURSE ANNOUNCEMENT (June 15-July 10)
FIELD COURSE IN CORAL REEF ECOLOGY (CRE B-12)
COURSE LOCATION: Bocas del Toro Biological Station, Boca del Drago,
Isla Colon, Republic of Panama. The biological station is located on
a beach facing the Caribbean Sea. Coral reef and seagrass ecosystems
lie out in front of the station and lowland tropical rain forests lie
directly behind. This juxtaposition of the two most biologically
diverse ecosystems provides tremendous opportunities for education
and research. See: http://www.itec-edu.org/index.html for details.
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Alfred Beulig, Institute for Tropical Ecology and
Conservation, and New College of Florida, 5800 Bay Shore Rd.,
Sarasota, FL 34243, email: [email protected] Specialties: Behavior of
fish, reef morphology, hydrodynamics, reef symbioses, reef trophic
dynamics, behavioral ecology of reef organisms.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
NOTE: Diving certification is not necessary to enroll in this course,
but is recommended. For SCUBA-certified (PADI, NAUI, or SSI
certified) students who will be diving, there is a $100 Lab Fee with
this course which covers dive tank, air and dive weight rental.
Students with SCUBA certification are expected to bring their own BC,
regulators, mask/fins/snorkel and proof of certification.
This course is designed to provide the student with a sound
foundation in ecological concepts, techniques and experimental design
in field research as applied to coral reef ecosystems. The material
covered is equivalent to a university upper level course in coral
reef field ecology.
The course will begin with a global ecosystem perspective and then
will progressively narrow to assess the way in which local reefs are
influenced by both global and local phenomena. We will focus in depth
on Caribbean reefs using the reef at Bocas del Toro as an example. We
will provide a brief introduction to plate tectonics as a basis for
understanding the production of substrate for reefs and their
distribution in the biosphere. In this context we will discuss
several theories of the origins of reefs and characterize a general
reef community. The major reef biota that inform the character of
reefs will be discussed in terms of their anatomy, physiology,
ecological requirements, roles on the reef and overall impact. We
will examine and discuss some controversial formulations of community
structure such as the role of competition, stochastic vs
deterministic models in reef organization, diversity/stability
relationships and trophic dynamics. Sampling methodology will be
discussed with regard to the peculiar demands of the reef setting and
we will examine several experimental designs and sampling schemes
with regard to their strengths and weaknesses as well as their
theoretical bases.
Formal Lectures
Lectures will present topics that provide a background for the field
work in an interactive discussion format. Topics are selected to
permit students to develop an awareness of the objectives of research
on coral reefs as well as an appreciation of current theoretical and
practical issues in ecology.
Field Work Briefings
Prior to departing for the reef site, dive teams will be formed and
the objectives for the day will be outlined and discussed.
Assignments will be made to the dive teams and coordinated.
Readings
Assignments relating to lecture topics will be made from the texts
and supplementary research articles provided in the library as well
as journal articles.
Required Texts
Garrison, Tom. Oceanography Latest Ed., Wadsworth, New York.
Humann, Paul. Reef Coral Identification, New World, Jacksonville, FL.
Humann, Paul. Reef Creature Identification, New World, Jacksonville, FL.
Humann, Paul. Reef Fishes Identification, New World, Jacksonville, FL
(Note: Instructor will provide list of other important books on coral
reef ecology on request.)
Group Exercises
During the first week, students will visit several sites in the
vicinity of the station to familiarize themselves with the area and
to do reconnaissance observations that may lead to hypotheses that
could be tested in individual projects. Students will be organized
into dive team groups and will carry out field observations or data
collection by which they will gain experience in the local area to
help decide upon a likely study site. These experiences will prepare
students to carry out individual research projects. In the evenings,
students will participate in "debriefing sessions" during which they
will try to identify the reef organisms they saw during the dives of
the day and record the common name and scientific name of the species
in a debriefing log.
Individual Research Projects
Each student will be expected to prepare a grant proposal for an
original project in consultation with faculty. Projects may be
suggested by observations made during group exercises or from the
research literature, and will be evaluated on the basis of
feasibility in the available time, soundness of experimental design
and concept. During the final week of the course, data analysis and
writing of project reports will be carried out and students will
present their results orally in an end-of-course symposium. They
will present the research report on their findings in the form of a
journal article for evaluation.
Formal Lecture Topics
Fundamentals of oceanography, global ecology.
Plate tectonics, formation of ocean basins, continents and ocean currents.
Evolution of Caribbean and tropical Central American environment.
Reef morphology, distribution of reef systems.
Coral reef community study - sampling methods , distribution and
abundance of organisms. Biology of coral reef organisms: Porifera and
crypto-fauna.
Biology of coral reef organisms: echinoderms, arthropods and annelids.
Biology of coral reef organisms: fishes.
Biology of coral reef organisms: algae and plants.
The coral reef as ecosystem: How are reefs organized?
Competition theory, diversity.
Ecosystem stability: are coral reefs more stable than temperate ecosystems?
Stability, resilience and fragility; are these concepts relevant to reefs?
Anthropogenic effects on reefs.
COURSE LENGTH: ITEC Summer field courses are four weeks in length.
CRE B-12 will run
from June 15 through July 10, 2012.
TUITION: $2050 USD. Tuition fee includes all lodgings, meals and
airport transfers in Bocas del Toro. The tuition also covers
transportation and lodging during the 3-day cloud forest field trip
on the mainland to the town of Boquete. A $100 USD lab fee to cover
dive air and tank rental is required for this course.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: May 20, 2012. The course is limited to 10
students and applications will be evaluated as they arrive. If you
believe that your application may arrive late, notify ITEC.
GRADING AND COURSE CREDIT: Up to 6 units of credit will be given, 3
for the lecture portion and 3 for the field/lab portion. A letter
grade will be assigned based on grant proposals, journal article,
oral presentation as well as attendance and participation in
lecture/discussion and engagement in the material. In the field/lab
portion, students will be evaluated on the basis of safe diving
practice, development of observational and data collecting skills,
reliability as a dive partner and preparedness to go into the field
with data collecting equipment and dive gear in order and ready.
Other, less tangibles such as personal attitude, motivation and
contribution to the course will also be noted. Course credit must be
arranged at the student's institution. Contact ITEC for details.
CONTACT: Institute for Tropical Ecology and Conservation, 2911 NW
40th PL, Gainesville, FL 32605, Phone: 352-367-9128,
[email protected], http://www.itec-edu.org/index.html
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**********************************************************
Peter N. Lahanas, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Institute for Tropical Ecology and Conservation (ITEC)
2911 NW 40th Place, Gainesville, FL 32605, USA
phn: 352-367-9128
web: http://www.itec-edu.org
Bocas del Toro Biological Station
Boca de Drago, Isla Colon, Prov. Bocas del Toro
Republic of Panama
phn: 507-6624-9246
