Course

Tropical Coastal Ecology

SFS 3790

Tropical Coastal Ecology

4 credits

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

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Semester

Tropical Island Biodiversity Studies

Panama
15 Weeks
18 Credits
Spring 2025
Jan 27 - May 9
In the Field
Fall 2025
Sep 1 - Dec 12
Open
Spring 2026
Jan 26 - May 8
Open