An intensive, field course will be offered through the Institute of Tropical Ecology and Conservation (ITEC) in Bocas del Toro, Panama. Graduate students and advanced undergraduates seeking field and laboratory research experience in tropical wetlands are encouraged to apply.
The course combines formal lectures and field exercises in the first 10 days followed by faculty-directed field and laboratory research in the final weeks. Course materials include text book and peer-reviewed articles. Formal lectures will cover central topics in tropical wetland ecology including ecological organization, regional climate and geology, hydrology, water quality, biogeochemistry, plant ecology, plant adaptations to the wetland environment and wetland ecosystem services, management and environmental issues. Introductory field excursions include visits to wetlands of Bocas del Toro including riverine, mangrove, mixed hardwood and Raphia swamp forests and herbaceous bog wetlands. Examples of field and laboratory exercises may include GPS and elevation survey techniques, review of experimental design and statistical analyses, vegetation survey techniques, techniques to quantify plant biomass, water quality measurements, characterization of wetland soil properties, leaf tannin and nutrient quality assays. Students should expect to experience a rigorous adventure in tropical American wetlands! A three-day field trip to Boquete Cloud forest takes place midway through the course and will allow students the opportunity to experience other habitats of Panama including tropical cloud and seasonal forests traveling through the central mountain range and remote Palo Seco National Park. Course fees: $2050 USD. Tuition fee includes all lodging, meals and airport transfers in Bocas del Toro. The tuition also covers transportation and lodging during the 3-day cloud forest field trip on the mainland. Registration deadline is April 15, 2011. Up to six credits can be earned. Course credit must be arranged with the students institution. Instructor: Dr. Tiffany Troxler, Florida International University and Florida Coastal Everglades LTER collaborator; [email protected] . Contact Dr. Troxler for further details about the course. Contact ITEC 2911 NW 40th PL, Gainesville, FL 32605, 352-367-9128, [email protected], http://www.itec-edu.org/index.html to apply and for further details about the field station.
