Host Organisation: Field Projects International Course Dates: Dec. 11- 23, 2017 Location: Madre de Dios, Peru Application Deadline: Nov. 6, 2017 Course Link: https://fieldprojects.org/course/entomology/
Course Description: The goals of this course are two-fold. First, participants will receive advanced training in insect diversity, form, and function, as well as field techniques that facilitate entomological research and conservation in the tropics, covering groups ranging from butterflies to beetles, bees, and aquatic insects, among others. Second, students will be introduced to an astonishing array of terrestrial and aquatic habitats that shelter a greater diversity of plant and animal species than anywhere else on the planet. Above all, participants learn by doing: we will spend most of our time studying actual insects in the field, from the tops of towering tropical trees to the bottom of oxbow lakes. Our field activities will be supplemented by selected readings from the primary literature covering topics on theoretical and applied tropical biology and entomology, as well as conservation in the Andes and Amazon regions. Participants will also gain exposure to cutting-edge research in other tropical biology fields at two of the most active biological research stations in the Neotropics. This course will be held at Finca Las Piedras Field Station, operated by the Alliance for a Sustainable Amazon. Located in the floodplain of the Las Piedras River, this site runs programs on primate demography, plant phenology and biological inventories of the community on site. Later, we will travel to the Los Amigos Biological Station, also known by its Spanish acronym EBLA (Estación Biológico Río Los Amigos), which is run by the Amazon Conservation Association. Situated between the Madre de Dios and Los Amigos Rivers on terra firme forest rising above the floodplain, this field station was established in 2000 and boasts incredible biodiversity that includes 11 primate species and 595 species of birds. Course Overview: The overwhelming majority of Earth’s known terrestrial animal species are invertebrates, mostly insects, that inhabit moist forests of the tropics. In the western Amazon, insects are a dominant component of microhabitats ranging from the canopies of towering emergent trees to the forest understory, into the leaf litter and even in aquatic habitats. Insects also occupy a bewildering variety of niches, straining the imagination of even the most thoughtful tropical naturalist. Although the number of known species is staggering, it is widely believed that most species remain to be described; proposed estimates of the total number of species globally do not agree even to within an order of magnitude. And despite their tremendous ecological importance, the basic biology and natural history of most species remain entirely unknown. This ignorance encumbers efforts to understand general patterns in the diversity, abundance, and distribution of biodiversity, a fact made especially urgent given the growing concern over human-caused global change. Located at the intersection of the mega-diverse western Amazon and tropical Andes ecosystems, the rainforests of southeastern Peru shelter more species of plants, insects, and other animals than almost anywhere else on Earth. The variety of insects found here is, of course, particularly striking: a few hectares of rainforest in Peru’s Tambopata National Reserve, for instance, contain as many as 1,300 species of butterflies or more. For comparison, North America—including all of the United States and Canada—has fewer than 800 species. Amazonian insect species diversity is matched only by the diversity in their form, behavior, and ecological function. In addition, although detailed studies are currently lacking for most tropical insect taxa, preliminary work suggests that as many as 600-700 butterfly species throughout the tropical Andes may be threatened with extinction due to habitat loss. Clearly, more studies of the basic biology and conservation status of insects throughout the Andes- Amazon region are urgently needed. Due to extreme biodiversity, large expanses of remote, inaccessible rainforest, and a woeful lack of expertise, understanding the diversity of Amazonian insect communities, their roles in tropical ecosystems, and the threats to their survival has remained a challenge. However, novel research methods and field techniques have been developed or adapted from temperate habitats that have greatly advanced our knowledge of some tropical insect groups. In this course, students will explore a variety of approaches that can be used to make sense of insect diversity, ecology, and conservation in the Madre de Dios Department, in the heart of the beautiful southeastern Peruvian Amazon. We will explore the rainforest canopy and its understory, as well as a diversity of terrestrial and aquatic habitats ranging from floodplain and ‘tierra firme’ forest to palm swamps, temporary ponds, and oxbow lakes. Course Topics: While focusing on the study of insect diversity, you will learn basic principles and methods of ecological research and about the ongoing challenges to conservation of biodiversity in the Amazon basin. Course topics will include: -Field Ethics, Safety Precautions, Rules, and Useful Tips -South American Ecosystems -The Los Amigos Conservation Concession -Forest Navigation -Working With A Trail System -Understanding Primary Scientific Literature -Neotropical Insect Diversity -Insect Ecology and Natural History -Field Techniques in Tropical Entomology -Fail-proof tree climbing. -Proper maintenance of a field notebook. -Upkeep of detailed and accurate wildlife sightings lists. Faculty: Geoff Gallice, PhD, finished his undergraduate degree in 2006 then immediately began working as a resident naturalist at the University of Georgia’s campus in San Luis, Costa Rica. In 2014 he received his doctorate from the University of Florida, after spending a year in the Madre de Dios region of Peru to produce his thesis on Neotropical clearwing butterflies. Since this time he has become increasingly engaged in not just entomological research, but also applied conservation in the Peruvian Amazon. He is currently president of the Alliance for a Sustainable Amazon and lives permanently in Peru. Read more of his bio at https://fieldprojects.org/faculty/geoff-gallice/ Eligibility: There are a few simple requirements to determine eligibility for this course: -You must be at least 18 years of age at the time of the course. -You must have medical insurance, and provide proof of such insurance to us to complete your reservation. -We have no citizenship requirements. Anyone is welcome to apply. You must obtain visas independently if necessary. -You do not need any training in biology – our course is structured to accommodate people from a variety of backgrounds. -Courses have a maximum capacity of 12 participants. If you are concerned that you will lose your spot, please contact us to confirm how many spots we have left. Program Costs: The fee for this course is $2500 and includes the following: -Food and lodging for the entire course. -Round-trip travel to EBLA and Finca Las Piedras from Puerto Maldonado. -Experienced instructors and field equipment. -This course fee does NOT include: -Air travel to and from Puerto Maldonado, Peru. -Travel or health insurance (proof of health insurance is required for course attendance). -Rubber boots, binoculars, flashlight and insect repellent (all of which are required to take this course). Student Aid: Scholarships This year, we are offering two scholarships to attend this course, one targeting a Peruvian citizen and the other open to applicants of other nationalities. For the application details please visit our scholarships page. https://fieldprojects.org/participate/courses-2/scholarships/ Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Support: FPI can now provide a peer-to-peer crowd funding platform for all field course students. You will be able to make your own fundraising page to share with your contacts and social networks. At the end of the fundraising period, FPI will issue a discount code to you for 100% of the funds that you have raised. You would then enter this code as you make your final course payment. If you raise enough to cover all (or part) of your initial reservation fee, you would be refunded that portion as well. https://fieldprojects.org/participate/peer-to-peer/ Course Dates: Dec. 11- 23, 2017 Application Deadline: Nov. 6, 2017 Course Link: https://fieldprojects.org/course/entomology/
