Instructor:

Dr. Jeff Kopachena, Ph.D.
Office:  903 886-5395
Email: Jeff_Kopachena@tamu-commerce.edu

Course Objectives:

This course is designed to familiarize students in neotropical ecology, especially as it pertains to neotropical birds and the conservation of neotropical birds.  Students will become familiar with basic concepts of ecology and avian biology.  They will also be instructed on aspects of biogeography and neotropical avian ecology and behavioral ecology.  All students will develop, design, and conduct an independent research project.  Projects will be written up and presented to the class.  To this end, all students will be introduced to ecological sampling techniques and simple data analyses.  In addition, students will be introduced to the many complex political and socioeconomic issues associated with neotropical conservation.

Course Organization:

The course begins with a rather intense schedule of lectures and field exercises.  This is to provide the students with the opportunity to become familiar with the area around the field station, to become familiar with the research techniques that will be needed for independent research projects, and to become familiar with the topics and issues that might provide ideas for specific projects.  A free day is scheduled every week.  These free days can be used simply for resting, or may be used for field trips to areas away from the field station itself.  The latter part of the course is devoted primarily to conducting independent research projects.  In addition, afternoons are spent learning about neotropical biodiversity and in class discussions about neotropical conservation issues.

Grading Scheme: 

For students taking the class for college credit, the following grading scheme will be used:
Test 1:                                              10 points
Test 2:                                              10 points
Test 3:                                              10 points
Research Project:                                 60 points
Participation in Class Discussions:        10 points
Total:                                               100 points

Prerequisites:

Some background in biology is preferred.  All students must be prepared to live in close proximity with other students at a field station for the duration of the course.  Thus, students must be polite, considerate, and physically and mentally fit.

Materials:

Text:  A guide to the birds of Costa Rica by F. Gary Stiles and Alexander Skutch.  1990.  Cornell University Press.  ISBN 0801496004.

Binoculars:  Magnification should be no less than 7x and nor more than 10x.  Spotting scopes are optional.

Data notebook:  You will need a water-proof notebook for writing field notes and collecting field data.  One acceptable product is “Rite in the Rain” available here: http://www.baproducts.com/riterain.htm or here: http://www.forestry-suppliers.com/drilldown_pages/view_category.asp?cat=804

Suggested Reading:  A neotropical companion: An introduction to the animals, plants and ecosystems of the new world tropics by John Kricher.  1999.  Princeton University Press.  ISBN 0691009740.

Tentative Schedule:

Note:  The following schedule is presented as a general guideline only.  The class will have an adaptive schedule in order to work around weather conditions, equipment problems, and local opportunities as they arise. 

• Day 1:  Arrival and orientation.
  
  
• Day 2:  Large forest orientation hike (5:30 AM)
  Lecture: Ecological principles and the ecology of the neotropics (9:00 – 11:30 AM)
  Hang hummingbird feeders (1:00 PM)
  Visit lagoon in evening (5:00 PM).
  
  
• Day 3:  Small forest orientation hike (5:30 AM)
  Lecture: Introduction to birds:  classification and evolution (9:00 – 11:30 AM)
  Check hummingbird feeders (1:00 PM)
  Lecture: Ecological methods – plant sampling
  Evening hike.
  
  
• Day 4:  Plant sampling exercise: quadrats and point quarter (5:30 – 8:30 AM)
  Lecture:  Biogeography of the neotropics (9:00 – 11:30 AM)
  Lecture:  Ecological methods – invertebrates (1:00 – 2:00)
  First Quiz: Ecology and birds (2:30 – 3:30)
  Set up drift fences and pitfall traps (5:00 – 6:30)
  Night hike to swamp (8:00 – 11:00 PM).
  
  
• Day 5:  Lecture: Birds of Costa Rica - an introduction (9:00 – 11:30)
  Lecture: Ecological methods – vertebrates (focus on birds) (1:00 – 2:30)
  Check pitfalls and collect inverts (3:00 – 4:30)
  Mark Recapture Exercise (part one – set traps) (5:30 PM)
  Set light traps at 6:30 PM, check light traps at 8:30 PM (collect inverts).
  
  
• Day 6:  Mark Recapture Exercise (part two – check traps) (5:30 – 8:30 AM)
  Lecture: Neotropical Avian biology - Ecology and niche space (9:00 – 11:30 AM)
  Second Quiz:  Avian classification, evolution, biogeography (1:00 – 2:00 PM)
  Invertebrate sorting from light traps and pitfall traps (3:00 – 4:00).
  Invertebrate sorting from light traps and pitfall traps. (5:00 PM into evening).
  
  
• Day 7:  Morning bird walk (5:30 AM)
  Lecture:  Neotropical Avian biology -  Food and foraging strategies (9:00 – 11:30 AM)
  Discussion of independent research projects, establish research groups (pairs) (1:30 PM)
  Evening bird walk (5:00 PM).
  
  
• Day 8:  Day of rest:  optional trip
  
  
• Day 9:  Morning bird walk (5:30 AM)
   Lecture:  Neotropical Avian biology:  Courtship and mating systems (9:00 – 11:30 AM)
  Third Quiz:  Birds of Costa Rica, avian ecology, foraging, mating systems (3:00 PM)
  Research proposal development: groups explore area for potential subjects (5:00 PM).
  
  
• Day 10: Research proposal development: groups explore potential subjects (5:30 AM)
  Research proposal development (all afternoon)
  Presentation of research proposals (5:00 PM).
  
  
• Day 11: Morning: Begin data collection for research projects
  Afternoon:  assigned reading – issues in neotropical conservation (Ecology and Humans)
  Evening:  data collection for research projects.
  
  
• Day 12: Morning: data collection for research projects
  Afternoon: class discussion – Ecology and Humans
  Evening: data collection for research projects.
  
  
• Day 13: Morning: data collection for research projects
  Afternoon: preliminary analyses (1:00 - 2:00), presentation of preliminary results (2:30 PM)
  Evening: data collection for research projects.
  
  
• Day 14: Morning: data collection for research projects
  Afternoon: biodiversity spotlight: mammals of Costa Rica
  Evening: data collection for research projects.
  
  
• Day 15: Day off: field trip:  Rain forest aerial tram?
  
  
• Day 16: Morning: data collection for research projects
  Afternoon: assigned reading – the politics of neotropical conservation
  Evening: data collection for research projects.
  
  
• Day 17: Morning: data collection for research projects
  Afternoon: class discussion – the politics of neotropical conservation
  Evening: data collection for research projects.
  
  
• Day 18: Morning: data collection for research projects
  Afternoon: biodiversity spotlight: reptiles and amphibians of Costa Rica
  Evening: data collection for research projects.
  
  
• Day 19: Morning: data collection for research projects
  Afternoon: assigned reading – population, poverty, and neotropical conservation
  Evening: data collection for research projects.
  
  
• Day 20: Morning: data collection for research projects
  Afternoon: class discussion – population, poverty, and neotropical conservation
  Evening: data collection for research projects.
  
  
• Day 21: Morning: data collection for research projects
  Afternoon: biodiversity spotlight: invertebrates and parasites
  Evening: data collection for research projects.
  
  
• Day 22: Day of rest: field trip.
  
  
• Day 23: Analyses and write-up of research projects.
  
  
• Day 24: Presentation of research projects.
  
  
• Day 25: Presentation of research projects, end of course party.
  
  
• Day 26: Depart from La Suerte.