Tropical Island Biodiversity Studies

This course contains two distinct but integrated modules. The Spanish language module offers listening, oral, and written practice of the Spanish language at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels of proficiency. Students engage in oral and written grammar and vocabulary exercises, and develop Spanish language skills and tools required for their research projects. The Society and Culture of Panama module helps students to develop a more refined understanding of Panamanian culture and the various communities with which we work. Students participate in lectures, field exercises, and other activities—all of which teach them strategies and skills for working with people in a community-based research context and help them to assist with community extension projects.

This course examines environmental policy and socioeconomic values through the lens of tourism development in Bocas del Toro, Panama (Bocas). After discussing environmental and social challenges historically connected with international tourism development, we will then explore the ideological thrust towards sustainable tourism, as well as critique this concept – always asking: “what are we sustaining and for whom?”

The Tropical Forest Ecology and Resource Management course in the Tropical Island Biodiversity Studies (TIBS) program introduces students to concepts and tools to study and manage tropical forest ecosystems. The course covers basic principles about the factors driving biodiversity patterns, with a focus on tropical systems, explores symbiotic relationships among species within the rain forest and provides insights into the importance of neotropical forests worldwide. Thus, as part of this course we will conduct activities focused on learning about how to assess changes in biodiversity, learn about ecological processes such as forest dynamics and soil productivity, and ecosystem services.

Tropical Coastal Ecology (TCE) is a course that provides fundamental knowledge necessary to understand the main ecological processes and interactions in a fragile marine island ecosystem.

Basic ecological principles are paired with field observation and measurement to understand the interdependencies of species, populations, communities and ecosystems in the coastal and marine environment, and with particular attention to the management of resources and environments. Our studies will focus on the shallow marine and coastal environments of Bocas del Toro with an emphasis on coral reef, seagrass and mangrove habitats.

We will study the biology, ecology and behavior of key species, including those that form habitats and those that are important resources to the people of Bocas del Toro through fisheries and tourism. Finally, we will consider the impact of anthropogenic disturbance and global climate change to the island ecosystem and organisms living there, as well as discuss possible management solutions

This course prepares students to distinguish hidden assumptions in scientific approaches and separate fact from interpretation, cause from correlation, and advocacy from objectivity. Students learn specific tools including: experimental design; field techniques; basic descriptive statistics; and parametric and non-parametric quantitative analysis. Emphasis is placed on succinct scientific writing, graphic and tabular presentation of results, and effective delivery of oral presentations.