TROPICAL ISLAND ECOLOGY - Undergraduate May Term Course - 2015
INT 221 - (for Non-science Majors) 4 credits BIO 321 / ENV 321 - (for Science & Science Ed majors) 4 credits Faculty: Nancy Prentiss & Ron Butler Division of Natural Sciences, Biology Dept., University of Maine at Farmington - Farmington, Maine 04938 We are offering our Tropical Island Ecology course for the 10th consecutive year. This course provides experiential learning of the biotic and abiotic factors that govern tropical island ecosystems (coral reefs, grass beds, mangroves, dry Antillean scrub and moist mature forests) found on a typical Caribbean island (St. John, USVI). Topics addressed include: biodiversity, adaptation and co-evolution, animal behavior, energy flow and nutrient cycling between terrestrial and marine systems, climate, geography, and human impact on island ecology. All students will participate in a collaborative research project involving coral reef fish diversity and daily lessons on island ecology. Intensive field work includes daily snorkeling and moderately strenuous hiking to field locations. Assessments will include a field journal, pre-and post-course examinations covering course material and species identification, on-site lessons, and course participation assessment. Course assignments for science majors (BIO 321 / ENV 321) differ from non-majors (INT 221) Course Location - University of Maine at Farmington & Virgin Islands Environmental Resource Station, St John, USVI Course dates - May 18 – June 1, 2015 (4 class days at UMF, 11 days on St John). Trip Fee: $2,400 (covers all travel, housing, meals, and equipment rentals) plus tuition (instate = $1044, out of state = $2180) Contact: Nancy Prentiss [email protected] 207-778-7396 https://ab74e1e72ccd7930bc63a78ca503c09b8f0bba17.googledrive.com/host/0B985dSJVRA1mSnZvMFg2ek9jaG8/Tropical%20Island%20Ecology%20UMF.HTM
