This is at least misleading and probably is equivalent to false
advertising. REU refers to the NSF program that pays students stipends
and provides them with quality research experiences. The same acronym
cannot be used to advertise courses where students have to pay for a
course with a for-profit and non-accredited program. Allowing posts this
type on the EcolLog listserve is effectively an endorsement of the
program. These advertisements should not be allowed.
Mitch Cruzan
On 1/29/2018 8:08 AM, Peter Lahanas wrote:
2018 SUMMER COURSE ANNOUNCEMENT (June 15 – July 10)
*FIELD COURSE IN CORAL REEF ECOLOGY (CRE B-18)*
COURSE LOCATION:**Bocas del Toro Biological Station, Boca del Drago,
Isla Colon, Republic of Panama.The biological station is located on a
hill facing the Caribbean Sea.Coral reef, seagrass and mangrove
ecosystems are in front of the station and lowland tropical forests
lie directly behind.This juxtaposition of the two most biologically
diverse ecosystems provides tremendous opportunities for education and
research.See http://www.itec-edu.org/ for details.
INSTRUCTOR:**Dr. Lonnie Kaczmarsky, St. Johns River State College,
email: [email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>. _Specialty_: coral reef
ecology, coral diseases and anthropogenic impacts on coral reefs, sea
grass beds, mangroves and fish populations.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:*NOTE:* Diving certification is not necessary to
enroll in this course, but is recommended. For SCUBA-certified (PADI,
NAUI, or SSI certified) students who will be diving, there is a $100
Lab Fee with this course which covers tank-recharging fees.Students
with SCUBA certification are expected to bring their own BC,
regulators, mask/fin/snorkel and proof of certification.For those not
diving certified, students are expected to bring
mask/fin/snorkel.Students using only mask and snorkel are exempt from
the lab fee.
This course is designed to provide the student with a sound foundation
in ecological concepts, techniques and experimental design in field
research as applied to coral reef ecosystems. The material covered is
equivalent to a university upper level course in coral reef field
ecology. The course will begin with a global ecosystem perspective and
then will progressively narrow to assess the way in which local reefs
are influenced by both global and local phenomena. We will briefly
survey reef systems in various parts of the world and focus in depth
on Caribbean reefs. Using the reef at Bocas del Toro as an example, we
will carry on an inventory of representative reef biota to
characterize a general reef community. We will examine several
theories of the origins of reefs and discuss some controversial
arguments on the ecological processes ruling the dominant state and
health of coral reefs.Students will learn to characterize a general
reef community and its place among surrounding marine habitats.The
major reef biota will be discussed in terms of their phylogeny,
biology, physiology, ecological requirements and roles in species
interactions on reefs.We will discuss the impacts of anthropogenic
stressors to coral reefs and the role of marine reserves in reef
restoration and conservation.In the inventory we will examine several
experimental designs and sampling schemes with regard to their
usefulness in a reef setting.
*
*
*Formal Lectures*.Lectures will present topics that provide a
background for the fieldwork in an interactive discussion format.
Topics are selected to teach students about the biology and ecology of
the reef organisms they will encounter and permit students to develop
an awareness of the objectives of research on coral reefs as well as
an appreciation of current theoretical and practical issues in ecology.
_Lecture Topics ___
* Fundamentals of oceanography, global ecology
* Plate tectonics, formation of ocean basins, continents and ocean
currents
* Reef morphology, distribution of reef systems
* Seagrasses and mangroves: interactions with reef systems
* Coral reef community study - sampling methods for distribution and
abundance of organisms
* Coral reef community study - components and interactions, trophic
dynamics
* Biology of coral reef organisms: Cnidarians
* Biology of coral reef organisms: Poriferans
* Biology of coral reef organisms: Echinoderms, Arthropods and Annelids
* Biology of coral reef organisms: Fishes
* Biology of coral reef organisms: Macroalgae
* Ecosystem stability, resilience and fragility
* Anthropogenic effects on reefs: climate change, over-fishing, diseases
* Marine protected areas and reserves
*
*
*Readings*.Assignments relating to lecture topics will be made from
the texts and supplementary research articles provided in the library.
_Required Texts ___
Sheppard, CRC, Davy, S.K. and G.M. Pilling _The Biology of Coral
Reefs_, Oxford Press, USA.
Humann, Paul. _Reef Coral Identification_, New World, Jacksonville, FL.
Humann, Paul. _Reef Creature Identification_, New World, Jacksonville,
FL.
*
*
*Field Work Briefings*.Prior to departing for the reef site, dive
teams will be formed and the objectives for the day will be outlined
and discussed.Assignments will be made to the dive teams and coordinated.
*
*
*Group Exercises*.During the first week, students will visit several
sites in the vicinity of the station to familiarize themselves with
the area and to make observations that may lead to hypotheses that
could be tested in individual projects.Students will be organized into
dive teams and will carry out field exercises in which they will gain
experience in the use of sampling equipment and techniques used in
reef research and monitoring.In the evenings, students will
participate in ‘debriefing sessions’ during which they will identify
the reef organisms they saw during the dives of the day and record the
common name and scientific name of the species in a logbook.
*
*
*Individual Research Projects*.Each student will be expected to
prepare a research proposal for an original project in consultation
with faculty. Projects may be suggested by observations made during
group exercises or from the research literature, and will be evaluated
on the basis of feasibility in the available time, soundness of
experimental design and concept. During the final week of the course,
data analysis and writing of project reports will be carried out and
students will present their results orally in an end-of-course
symposium.They will present the research report on their findings in
the form of a journal article for evaluation.
BOQUETE CLOUD FOREST FIELD TRIP:This field trip will allow students
the opportunity to visit other areas of Panama, to experience
Panamanian culture, and to visit tropical cloud and seasonal forests
first hand.We travel in ITEC boats to the mainland and then by
chartered bus to Boquete which lies at the base of 11,000 ft. Volcan
Baru.The bus trip will take us up and over the central mountain range
and through Palo Seco National Park.Several stops will be made in route.
COURSE LENGTH: ITEC Winter field courses are about three weeks in
length.The CRE B-18 will run from June 15 through July 10, 2018.
TUITION: $2250 USD plus a $100 lab fee.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: May 15, 2018.The course is limited to 10
students and applications will be evaluated as they arrive.
Applications can be found at
http://itec-edu.org/education-programs/application/.If you believe
that your application may arrive late, notify ITEC.
GRADING and COURSE CREDIT: Grades will be assigned based on attendance
at lectures, exams, reports, proposals, as well as by less tangibles
such as personal attitude, motivation, and contribution to the course.
The instructor will provide a breakdown of points earned and final
letter grade to your academic institution. The student is to provide
direct evidence of course participation such as the syllabus,
schedules, handouts, lecture notes, proposals, reports, etc. Course
credit must be arranged in advance through the student’s institution
and academic advisor.Contact ITEC for details.
CONTACT:*Institute for Tropical Ecology and Conservation*,2911 NW
40^th PL, Gainesville, FL 32605, phone: 352-367-9128, email:
[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>, web:
http://www.itec-edu.org.ITEC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
founded in 1996.
--
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Mitch Cruzan
Professor of Biology
Portland State University
PO Box 751
Portland, OR 97207 USA
Web: http://web.pdx.edu/~cruzan/
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