May Term 2001: Tropical Biology in Costa Rica
Professor: Jeff Parmelee

                                                                                                                                    Class at Volcan Arenal
Back row: Ben Grier, Nick Ackerman, Aaron Wilson, Shari Biggs, Mindie Willer, Andrea Hastings, Brian Depew, Seth Vredenburg, Jeff Anderson.
Front row: Ryan Campbell, Kelly Andersen, Jessica Dyer, Becky Lamis, Stacy Wolfe, Steph Glessner, Jeff Parmelee.
 

Course Description:
International Study – Global Awareness

    Students will gain a comprehensive introduction to tropical life through field experience in a tremendous diversity of habitats.  Each area possesses distinctive biotas that, in turn, offer unique evolutionary settings and ecological adaptations.  We will stay at field stations in pre-montane rainforest and lowland rainforest, as well as take shorter excursions to high altitude páramo, an active volcano, and the pacific coastline.  Field orientation at each site includes the identification and natural history of key plant and animal species. Students will be required to design, conduct, and interpret research projects in small groups.  Results of these projects are presented orally to the entire class and in writing as a research report.  I will give lectures on tropical biology topics ranging from insect-plant coevolution to primate behavior.
    There will be unlimited opportunities to practice the Spanish language, and students will gain insight into contemporary Latin culture and environmental problems besetting tropical habitats.  Students will wake up to the sound of Howler monkeys at La Selva, learn about tropical biology by doing tropical biology, and get the opportunity to be immersed in habitats having the greatest diversity of butterflies, hummingbirds, plants, and of course frogs, in the world.
 

Brief Itinerary:

30 April  Arrival in San José, stay at Hotel La Amistad Inn
1 May  San José; Travel to La Palma
2 May  Tractor ride to entrance of Corcovado Park on the Península de Osa
  6-7 hour guided hike in to Sirena Biological Station
3-4 May Sirena Biological Station
5 May  Hike out, travel to San José
6 May  To Fortuna, Albergue La Catarata Ecolodge, Hot Springs
7 May  Arenal Volcano
8 May  To Rara Avis
9-10 May Rara Avis
11-15 May La Selva Biological Station
16 May to San José
17 May Travel back to Iowa
 

Photos from the trip
 
 

Title:  Observation of Leaf-Cutter Ants (Atta cephalotes) on the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
Authors:  Aaron Wilson and Ben Grier
Site:  Corcovado
Key Words: Atta cephalotes, rider ants, leaf-cutter ants, nest building, trail observation

Title:  Bees and their reaction to different flower stimuli.
Authors:  Nick Ackerman and Seth Vredenburg
Site:  La Selva
Key Words: Bees, sugar concentration, artificial flowers, color, shape

 

Title: A Comparison of the Insect and Moth Fauna Over Water and in Primary Rain Forest at La Selva, Costa Rica
Author: Brian Russell Depew
Site: La Selva Biological Research Station
Key Words: Insects, Moths, Black light

Title: Frog Olympics: Jumping characteristics of frogs
Author: Jessica Dyer
Site: La Selva
Key Words: Dendrobates pumilio, Eleutherodactylus bransfordii, Eleutherodactylus fitzingeri, jumping ability, endurance

Title:  Insects in the Primary and Secondary Rainforests at La Selva, Costa Rica
Author:  Jeff Anderson
Site:  La Selva Biological Station
Key Words:  Sticky Plates, Insects, Weevils

Title: Fruit Color Preference of Birds at La Selva, Costa Rica.
Authors: Kelly Andersen and Becky Lamis
Site: La Selva
Key Words: mimicked fruit, fruit-eating birds, fruit color, trees

Title: Feeding Behaviors of Various Species of Hummingbirds in the Tropical Rainforest of La Selva, Costa Rica
Authors: Steph Glessner and Andrea Hastings
Site: La Selva, Costa Rica
Key Words: hummingbirds, observation of, Little Hermit (Phaethornis longuemareus), Violet-headed (Klais guimeti), Rufous-tailed (Amazilia tzacatl), Stachytarpheta jamaicensis, Hamelia patens

Title: Islands of life in the Rainforest
Authors: Stacy Wolfe and Ryan Campbell
Site: Corcovado National Park
Key Words:  treeholes, buttresses, water volume, islands

Title: Strawberry poison dart frog (Dendrobates pumilio) social behavior
Authors: Shari Biggs and Mindie Willer
Site: La Selva
Key Words: poison dart frogs, Dendrobates pumilio, aggression, territorial behavior

 

Photos from the trip...