BIO 205 Tropical Biology and Conservation

This course is intended for students interested in the natural history, biology, and ecology of the tropics, the most biologically diverse region of the world.  Students will study evolutionary, ecological, and other biological principles of tropical ecosystems and the natural history of the organisms that live there.  We will examine conservation programs, sustainable development practices, and the widespread impact of this region of the globe.  The course culminates in a two-week long travel experience where students will visit such places as lowland tropical rain forests, high elevation tropical cloud forests, coastal ecosystems, primary and secondary forests, and more.   In the field, students will conduct brief research programs designed to illustrate the possibilities of careers working in the tropics over a broad range of possible biological specialties ranging from working in tropical biodiversity, evolution, and sustainability to such diverse topics as agriculture and medicine.

Credits

4

Prerequisite

Biology lower-core curriculum and permission of the instructor

Offered

spring semester