"Ecological Field Methods in the Rainforest"

2-19 August 2005
A field course in the southern Peruvian rainforest for advance undergraduate/beginning graduate students to learn the methodologies for rainforest ecological studies
Sponsored by Central Connecticut State University, The Natural History Museum of Cusco, Peru and the nonprofit organization Oicos Habitare
This course is a chance for students to gain an in-depth, hands-on experience in conducting biological research in the Peruvian rainforest. In its fourth year, the program was developed for biology majors and other students that have a background in biology and wish to increase their knowledge of field biology and ecology. The aim of the program is for students to learn about, practice, and conduct original biological research in one of the most species diverse areas of the world. Participants will learn ecological methods for the study of plants, mammals, insects, birds, and reptiles and amphibians.
Before the departure date, students will indicate which organismal groups that they have the most interest in: a) plants, b) insects, c) mammals, d) birds, e) reptiles and amphibians. Five different instructors (four Peruvian plus Tiffany Doan of CCSU) will be in charge of the different organismal groups. The first two days of the course will have lectures by Dr. Doan and Mr. Nuñez about general rainforest ecology. For the remaining time students will be divided into organismal groups. Each day one instructor will give a general lecture regarding their organismal group to the entire class. Later that day all instructors will give more specific lectures to their group. Students will go out in the field once with each instructor and multiple times within their own group.
At the end of the program students will participate in a cultural excursion to the southern Peruvian desert to visit the archaeological sites of the Nazca Lines and the Nazca Cemetery, and the natural attractions of the Islas Ballestas in the Pacific Ocean.
Costs: The fee will be $1795 (plus tuition if you wish to receive credit). This fee includes all transportation from Hartford (price different if from another gateway city), all accommodations, all entrance fees, and meals while at the research station and breakfasts in the southern desert. Not included are meals while traveling, lunch and dinner in the southern desert, airport taxes (approximately $43 per person), and textbooks. Students will be required to bring a tent for camping during the program. Tents may be shared among several students.
Requirements for participation: fluency in English, a flexible attitude that does not mind getting dirty for the sake of science, some camping experience, at least two college biology courses taken, or permission of the international coordinator.
For further information and application materials please see the course website or contact Tiffany Doan at DoanTiM@ccsu.edu. The application deadline 1 April 2004.