Tropical Ecology

This class explores Costa Rican tropical ecology, research, and culture through preparatory classes, readings, and a two-week trip to southern Costa Rica. Students will be introduced to organisms and ecological processes of lowland, pre-montane and cloud forest tropical forests through a series of forest walks, lectures, and independent field studies. Each student will develop, implement, and report on an independent field study exploring concepts from class, lectures, and reading. The class will travel by private transport and stay at three research stations. Resources and staff at each station will help students maximize their time in country.

Class topics will include (1) biogeographical and ecological explanations for species diversity and distribution, (2) alternate hypotheses and explanations for high diversity tropical forests, (3) ecological interactions and coevolution, (4) pollination and fruit dispersal mechanisms, (5) land use change, forest fragmentation and sustainable development models, (6) Costa Rica’s forward-thinking ecosystem services programs, and (7) forest restoration.

In-person Class Format: This course is offered fully in-person. Students should expect to attend in-person for all class periods. We cannot promise to offer remote attendance options due to illness or other absences. Students should strategize methods for getting notes from class when attendance is not possible.  

CLASS SCHEDULE: Wednesday nights, 6pm-10pm (every other week during Winter quarter, 5 meetings total before the field trip).

International Field Trip: March 15-29, 2025