2013 SUMMER COURSE ANNOUNCEMENT (June 15-July 10) FIELD METHODS IN PRIMATE ECOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR
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. Jackson Frechette, Ph.D. Candidate., Interdisciplinary Ecology, School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Florida. [email protected] Specialty: Community ecology, behavioral ecology, primatology, conservation and research design. COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course will familiarize students with field methodology for studying primate ecology and behavior, and will provide a background in major focuses of primatological field research. The material covered is equivalent to a university upper level course in primatology. The course relies on lectures and discussions of readings as well as field training, culminating in the planning, implementation, analysis and presentation of an independent field research project. During the first few days students will become familiar with the many ecosystems found in our area and with the trail systems during ³orientation² walks. The bulk of the first 10 days will be spent learning field techniques and carrying out various group exercises (see below). Midway through the course the entire station community takes a 3-day field trip to cloud forests of Boquete (see details below). On returning to the field station, students work on their individual research projects and continue to receive lectures or other activities in the evening. Lectures/discussion Lectures will take place in the classroom and will include the use of PowerPoint presentations and chalkboard, focusing on readings and discussion. Readings will be assigned and should be completed before lectures, which will generally be in the evening so that more daylight hours can be spent in the field. Topics will be: Introduction to primate diversity, behavior, and evolution Research design and sampling methods Introduction to general ecological prinicples Community ecology Behavioral ecology Primate conservation Readings Readings corresponding to lecture subjects will be assigned from the course texts as well as published papers available online or hard copy at the station. Discussion will focus on critical reads of the assigned materials with a focus on methodology when applicable. Required Text: Martin, P., and Bateson, P. Measuring Behavior. 3rd ed. King¹s College, Cambridge, MA. Recommended Texts: Strier, K. Primate Behavioral Ecology. 4th ed. Setchell, J.M., and Curtis, D.J. Field and Laboratroy Methods in Primatology: A Practical Guide. Cambirdge University Press. Field Book A field notebook will be required in the course. The field book will contain all data related to group projects and independent research project. The field book should also contain all other incidental observations such as species lists, behavioral notes, etc., and contain detailed location information. The field book must be water-proof and either pencil or water-proof ink used to record data. Group Field Exercises These group exercises are designed to introduce students to various techniques and equipment commonly used in field primatology and prepare them to undertake their independent projects. All students are expected to participate in all field exercises, as well as write up results for all projects and be prepared to discuss (rather than report) these in lectures. Group Field Exercise Topics * Habitat Profiles comparing habitats by collecting tree dbh, tree height, crown volume, and canopy cover data * Vegetational Analysis establishing availability of food resources * Behavioral Observations and Data Collection intro to behavioral sampling methods, ethogram development, and the analysis and presentation of observational data * Censusing and Demography intro to line transect censusing and other techniques in primate population analysis Individual Research Projects Working closely with faculty, students will be responsible for designing and completing an original primatological research project of their choosing. These projects will be carried out during the second half of the course and students will have about 10 days for data collectionit is expected that each student will spend at least 60 hours in the field toward the completion of this poject. A few days before the end of the course students will analyze their data, write a 10-12 page research paper in International Journal of Primatology style, prepare a PowerPoint presentation of their work and orally present their findings (10-15 minutes) at a station-wide symposium on the last day of the course. BOQUETE CLOUD FOREST FIELD TRIP: This three-day field trip takes place midway through the course and will allow students the opportunity to experience assemblages of wildlife in tropical cloud and seasonal forests. We travel in ITEC boats to the mainland and then by private bus to the town of Boquete which lies at the base of 11,000 ft Volcan Baru. The bus trip will take us up and over the central mountain range and through remote Palo Seco National Park. Several stops will be made in route. COURSE LENGTH: ITEC Summer field courses are four weeks in length. Primate Ecology B-12 will run from June 15 through July 10, 2013. TUITION: $2050 USD. Tuition fee includes all lodging, 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. REGISTRATION DEADLINE: May 15, 2013. The course is limited to 15 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 portion. A letter grade will be assigned based on exams, reports, proposals, attendance at lectures, as well as by less tangibles such as personal attitude, motivation, and contribution to the course. Course credit must be arranged at the student¹s institution. Contact ITEC for details. CONTACT: Institute for Tropical Ecology and Conservation, 2911 NW 40th PL, Gainesville, FL 32605, 352-367-9128, [email protected], http://www.itec-edu.org/index.html. ********************************* 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 In Panama: 011-507-6853-2134 [email protected]
