Welcome to Bio220 at American University of the Caribbean

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

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