I am a Full Professor of Biological Anthropology, Head of the Department of Anthropology, Editor of the American Journal of Primatology, and a member of the Program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Illinois. My research interests focus on questions behavior, ecology, cognition and mating systems of nonhuman primates in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Peru, Brazil, and Bolivia. I look forward to meeting you and working with you at La Suerte.
GRADING
You will receive 2 grades for this course. The first grade is for Field Techniques in Biological Anthropology. This part of the course involves supervised participation in data collecting techniques and field methods. This includes both lectures and data collection in the field. The course provides instruction and experience in the following field techniques: (1) methods of vegetation sampling in tropical rainforests, (2) methods of collecting information on temporal changes in resource availability in the rainforest, (3) mapping a field site, and (4) methods of collecting data on the behavior and ecology of free-ranging nonhuman primates. 3 credits or 1 graduate unit.
Your grade is based on: mastery of techniques during the 6 day rotation schedule (55%)
score on the mid-term essay exam (40%)
cooperation and ability to work with others ( 5%)
The second grade is for Research Design and Data Analysis: interpretation, evaluation, and organization of field data in biological anthropology; preparation of written reports based on your individual research project. The course requirements include (1) writing a research proposal (25%), (2) collecting data for an independent research project (25%), (3) analyzing the results of the research project and writing a final report (25%), and (4) oral presentation of research results (25%). 3 credits or 1 graduate unit.
Attendance at all lectures, presentations, and discussions is required.
ASSIGNMENTS
Field Techniques” Rotate through each field activity every 1-2 days. Group report each evening. Meet with faculty each evening to discuss the schedule, activities, and equipment you need for the following day (December 28-January 2nd)
Examination: 6:30-9:30 pm on January 5th. 3-hour essay exam.
DUE ON OR BEFORE January 6th at 6:00 PM - Research Proposal. What is required is a 5 page written proposal indicating the OBJECTIVES AND SIGNIFICANCE, BACKGROUND, RESEARCH QUESTIONS (HYPOTHESES), METHODS, SUMMARY of your project. RESEARCH PROJECTS MUST BE APPROVED BEFORE YOU CAN BEGIN YOUR PROJECT. Detailed descriptions and definitions of behavioral/ecological variables studied should be included in an appendix. All proposals must also include a sample data sheet.
Research Proposal: I will provide each student with a list of topics for a research project and an outline of how to write a research proposal. All drafts of your proposal prior to arriving in Costa Rica should be sent to me electronically. I will provide comments on the proposal and a second draft of your proposal is due on December 1st. I will provide comments on the second draft. Please rework your second draft and bring 5 paper copies (must be double-spaced) with you to the field site.
REQUIRED TEXTS
(Please order on your own from campus book store or the internet).
Milton, K 1980. The Foraging Strategy of Howler Monkeys: A Study in Primate Economics. New York: Columbia University Press.
Strier, KB (most recent edition). Primate Behavioral Ecology. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
READING ASSIGNMENTS
December 27 – December 31 Reading - Milton pages 1-98
Strier pages 1-65
January 1 - January 5th Reading - Milton pages 98-150-
Strier pages 168-250
January 5 - 3 HOUR ESSAY EXAMINATION (6:00pm-9:00pm)
January 10 - RECONFIRM YOUR AIRLINE RESERVATIONS
January 12 - FINAL DAY OF DATA COLLECTION
January 13 - Each student must hand in a final written paper by 6:00 PM detailing the results of their research. The paper must be written as a scientific article and include a TITLE PAGE, ABSTRACT, Introduction (brief theoretical statement indicating the research questions), METHODS (be extremely specific and detailed), RESULTS (present the data), DISCUSSION (describe how your results compare to similar research on other species or theoretical issues in the field), CONCLUSIONS (list 4 conclusions of your research), REFERENCES, TABLES, FIGURES.
January 14 - Primate Behavior and Ecology Symposium on at La Suerte.
Each student will give an oral presentation sharing the results of their research project. Presentations cannot be read. You can use note cards note figures/tables/overheads to assist in the presentation. As in scientific meetings you will have a maximum of 15 minutes for the presentation and 5-10 minutes for discussion.
PACK ON EVENING OF January 14 and CLASS PARTY
January 15 SO LONG, FAREWELL, GOOD-BYE Ometepe!!!!! Leave La Suerte and travel to San Jose. Spend night at hotel in San Jose.
Tourist shopping
January 16 Return to the United States
There will be lectures scheduled every day. Generally lectures will be from 4:30-6:00pm. Lecture topics include:
1. Orientation regarding safety, procedures and behavior at La suerte, course goals, and course requirements
2. Introduction to primate behavior and ecology, primate traits, and theories of primate origins
3. Ancestral and derived traits, parallel and convergent evolution
4. The evolutionary history of New World Primates
5. Problems of primate locomotion and anatomical solutions
6. Body size, feeding ecology and the problems primates face when exploiting fruit, leaf, and insect resources
7. Spatial information, cognition, and perceptual cues in primate foraging behavior.
8. Rainforest ecology and primate conservation.
9. Ecotourism, bananas, and globalization
10. Ethics in animal research
11. Primate cognitive ecology: use of social and ecological information in decision-making
12. Tool use in capuchins and other primates
13. Primate social systems
14. Cooperation and competition: The evolution of sociality
The forest is a very personal experience:
Difficult to describe and impossible to photograph. It is more than 3 dimensional: space, sights, colors, textures, sounds, experiences. On the last full day at La Suerte please take the time to walk around the forest by yourself so that you can leave with a final and quiet memory of your time here.
Your experience here will be very intense. Try to maintain your energy, but if you are having physical or emotional problems, please let us know. We have been through this before and we can help. The entire Ometepe staff is here to help..
POLICIES GOVERNING ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
1. Codes of Conduct and Academic Integrity. I expect all students to adhere to codes of conduct and academic integrity that is outlined in the University of Illinois student handbook. The handbook can be found on line at and clearly spells out penalties for academic dishonesty, plagiarism, and appropriate and inappropriate conduct. The field course runs 7 days per week for 24 hours a day from July 20-August 14th and I expect all students to behavior accordingly.
Dismissal Policy: This policy is set by the University of Illinois Code of Policies and Regulations Applying to all students
1. Any behavior that endangers another person or property can result in immediate dismissal
2. Conduct with id undesirable and in violation of the University’s Code of Policies and Regulations including policies on drugs and alcohol
3. Conduct that is in violation of the laws, rules and regulations, and customs of the host country
4. Behavior, whether academic or social, which constitutes a clear and present danger to the health or safety of persons or property, or threatens the future viability of the program.
5. Physical or sexual assault; harassment, unlawful possession, use or distribution of illegal drugs, alcohol abuse, setting a fire or possession of explosives, possession of a weapon, threat.
Responsible Use of Alcohol:
Responsible use of alcohol includes the following:
1. A student does not miss any scheduled event because of the effects of alcohol consumption.
2. A student does not become ill due to the effects of alcohol consumption
3. A student is respectful of others sharing the same housing
4. A student does not engage in inappropriate behavior toward other individuals that is the result
5. of alcohol consumption
6. A student does not engage in destructive behavior toward property that is the result of alcohol Consumption
7. Use of illegal drugs is not permitted at the field station. The penalties and penal conditions for illegal drug use in Nicaragua are EXTREMELY severe. If the police catch anyone using illegal drugs, that person(s) will be prosecuted. If the staff of Ometepe catch you using illegal drugs, you will be immediately dismissed from the field school and sent home
8. A student abides by the laws of the country in which he or she is living |
