This is the blog for Bio220, General and Tropical Ecology,
taught by Debbie Baker at the American University of the Caribbean in Les Cayes Haiti.
Lecture notes and home work assignments will be posted on this blog.
Literature used in class:
Main text book - 2 copies available in the library, and on Kindles on loan - Kricher, J.
1997. A Neotropical Companion, 2nd ed. Princeton Press, 451pp.
Kricher, J. 2010. Tropical Ecology. Princeton
University Press, 640pp.
Sadava, D., H.C. Heller, G.O. Orians, W.K. Purves, and D.M. Hillis.
2008. Life, the Science of Biology, 8th ed. Sinauer Assc.
Inc. 1251+ pp. (click for website)
Binder of scientific articles on reserve in the library.
Handout Article 1 – Rimmer, C.C, J.M. Townsend, A.K.
Townsend, E.M. Fernández, and J. Almonte. 2005. Avian Diversity,
Abundance, and Conservation Status in the Macaya Biosphere Reserve of
Haiti. Ornitologia Neotropical 16: 219–230.
Handout Article 2 – Aubé, M. and L. Caron. 2001.
The mangroves of the north coast of Haiti - A preliminary
assessment. Wetlands Ecology and Management 9:271–278.
SYLLABUS
SYLLABUS
Date 2 hour lecture, 1 hour lab
Week 1 Aug. 30 LECTURE – Introductions; Ecology and Geography
of Tropics
LAB
– Scientific method & designing studies Hand
out article 1
Homework
for next week: Read article, write paper,
be prepared to discuss
Week 2 Sep. 6 LECTURE – Latitude & Altitude of
the Tropics
LAB – Journal article 1 discussion Hand out article 2
Homework
for next week: Read article 2, write paper of
scientific methods used
Week 3 Sep. 13 LECTURE - Quantifying Diversity & Patterns
of Tropical Diversity
LAB – Journal article 2 outline &
discussion
Homework
for next week: Choose research topic for
a paper
Week 4 Sep. 20 LECTURE – Biomes & Forest dynamics
LAB
– Submit topics (approved during class), Literature research methods
Homework
for next week: Outline research paper, at
least 5 lit sources
Week 5 Sep. 27 LECTURE – Plant Ecology
LAB
– Submit outlines, Writing journal articles
Week 6 Oct. 4 LECTURE – Freshwater Systems,
Mangroves, & Coral Reefs
LAB
- Return outlines with comments
Week 7 Oct. 11 MID-TERM EXAM
Homework
for Oct. 25: Submit draft paper
Week 8 Oct. 18 Tour of Botanical Garden *** This date is not yet set, may change***
Week 9 Oct. 25 LECTURE
- Tropical mammalian ecology & amphibian ecology
LAB
– Submit draft papers, Presenting scientific research
Week
11 Nov. 1 Ms. Baker is in the US - Drafts returned to students, Work on
papers during class, find a
partner and read and edit each other’s papers
Week 10 Nov. 8 LECTURE - Social Insects, Mimicry,
Defense, & Symbioses
LAB
– Share paper topics, discuss difficulties
Homework
Due Nov 15: FINAL papers!
Week 12 Nov. 15 LECTURE - Nutrient Cycling, Agriculture
& Timber Industry
LAB
– Submit FINAL papers, Environmental education, ecobusiness
Week 13 Nov. 22 No class Thanksgiving
Week 14 Nov. 29 LECTURE - Current Status of the Forests
& Conservation Strategies
LAB
– Outside explorations!
Week 15 Dec. 6 Present papers to the class
Dec. 12 – 18 FINALS
