NEW TROPICAL BIOLOGICAL STATION AVAILABLE TO HOST YOUR FIELD COURSE The Institute for Tropical Ecology and Conservation (ITEC) has built a new biological field station on Isla Colon, Bocas del Toro Province, Panama, and the facility is available to host your course in tropical biology. The ITEC field station is located within the Bocas del Toro Archipelago which is situated on the northeast Caribbean coast of Panama. Founded in 1996, ITEC is an independent, non-profit organization in the United States (501(c)(3)) and Panama (Resulto: 221-PJ-108), and was established to provide a venue for research and the presentation of field courses in tropical biology. ITEC (http://www.itec-edu.org), has presented a variety of four-week field courses every year since it was founded, and hosts many university and study abroad organizations annually. ITEC is a member of the Ciudad del Saber (http://ciudaddelsaber.org/en) and the Organization for Biological Field Stations (http://www.obfs.org/). Why bring your field course to ITEC? Our location on the north end of Isla Colon represents an ideal location for virtually any course in tropical biology (See ³Hosting your Courses² at http://itec-edu.org/hosting-your-courses/). The juxtaposition of both lowland tropical rain forests and marine systems results in tremendous biodiversity and translates into remarkable opportunities for education and research. Ecosystems and habitats available at the field station include marine (coral reefs, sea grass beds, rocky intertidals, mangroves, etc.), terrestrial (lowland rainforest, pastures, limestone caves, etc.) and freshwater systems (streams, ponds, swamps, marshes, etc.). See Ecosystems (http://itec-edu.org/bocas-del-toro-ecosystems/) for details. The Bocas del Toro Archipelago also offers a unique opportunity for the study of island biogeography and the insular biotas they contain. All of the islands of the archipelago are easily accessed from the ITEC field station. Why Panama? The Republic of Panama represents an ideal country to visit for the tropical biologist. Panama is politically stable, uses U.S. currency (along with the equally-valued Balboa), has vast forests in Bocas del Toro and Darien Provinces, and boasts an extensive array of national parks and preserves. Three preserves occur within the Bocas del Toro Archipelago; the Bastimentos National Marine Park, the San San-Pond Sak National Reserve and Isla Pajaros, a pelagic seabird nesting colony. Panama has become an important destination for ecotourists and supports this with a modern infrastructure and availability of services. Culture. Visiting students and instructors will find the diversity of cultures in Bocas del Toro remarkable. The primary cultures in the area are Afro-Antillean and the indigenous Ngöbe, but the indigenous Naso, Bokata and Guna are also present. Panamanian mestizo, Chinese and Arab cultures are also important in Bocas. Station Infrastructure. The Bocas del Toro Biological Station is located on a hill overlooking Almirante Bay in Boca del Drago, Isla Colon (9o 24¹ 21.34² N, 92o 18¹ 48.97 W). The station consists of three primary buildings and several smaller ones. Infrastructure includes a dormitory for 36 students, faculty housing for 8-16, a dinning hall seating 50, and a lab-library-classrooms complex. Other structures include a garage and shop, and a dive storage building. Current capacity is 45 students, faculty and research personnel. Cell phone reception and Wi-Fi are available at the field station. See Bocas del Toro Biological Station for details: http://itec-edu.org/bocas-del-toro-biological-station/. Instructional Facilities: Lecture facilities are available at three locations each accommodating an audience of 35+. Digital projectors as well as blackboards are available without cost to all visiting groups. Boats and Vehicles: ITEC maintains a fleet of four boats ranging in size form 12 feet to 25 feet, capable of transporting up to 20 individuals. Vehicles include a 4-wheeled drive pickup and 4-wheeler. Aluminum and dug-out canoes are also available. What¹s Included: Daily rates for visiting groups include meals, lodging, local airport transfers and local transportation to area locations. These include area reefs, beaches, Soropta Canal, Bird Island, Punta Caracol, and other locations near the field station. The daily fee also includes the use of all ITEC vehicles, boats (with or without pilots), laboratory, lab and field equipment, classrooms, dive tanks and weights. Contact ITEC for details. Station Availability: The Bocas del Toro Biological Station is open and available continually throughout the year. Contact ITEC on availability for specific dates. Appropriate Course Subjects. The following course subjects list represent courses that have been presented at the field station previously but is not exclusive. Virtually any course involving tropical ecology, biology, anthropology and geology may be presented at the field station. Rain Forest Ecology (Isla Colon Is over 75% forested). Canopy Access Techniques (resident instructor available throughout the year). Coral Reef Ecology (hard and soft reefs exceptionally diverse and abundant). Herpetology (diverse amphibian and reptile faunas including 4 species of sea turtles). Plant Biology/Systematics (very diverse flora due to proximity to mainland). Conservation Ecology (can include volunteer work with local schools). Animal Behavior (both terrestrial and marine animals to work with). Entomology/Invertebrate Zoology (extremely diverse marine and terrestrial fauna). Mammalogy, especially monkeys and bats (76 species recorded for area). Avian Ecology (150+ species in our area). Ethnobotany (five distinct indigenous cultures in our area). Carbonate Geology (karst producers: corals, algae, etc., and coal precursor peat swamps) ITEC Species Lists (http://itec-edu.org/data-bases-species-lists/). Other Tropical Ecosystems Available. Many groups elect to visit the cloud forest ecosystems of Boquete or Cerro Punta and the seasonal (deciduous) forest of the Pacific versant of Panama as a comparison to the lowland rain forest and coral reefs of Bocas del Toro. ITEC maintains partnerships with various travel and lodging partners that make these excursions easily available to visiting students and faculty. Trips vary from 3-5 days, depending on the needs of your course. Contact ITEC for details. Research. Short and long-term research opportunities also exist at the Bocas del Toro Biological Station. Research permits from the environmental authority ANAM is required to conduct research in Panama. See http://itec-edu.org/research/ for details. Contact: Course Hosting Information Institute for Tropical Ecology and Conservation (ITEC) 2911 NW 40th Pl. Gainesville, FL, 32105 i...@itec-edu.org 352-367-9128 http://www.itec-edu.org.
********************************* Peter N. Lahanas, Ph.D. Executive Director Institute for Tropical Ecology and Conservation (ITEC) 2911 NW 40th Place Gainesville, FL 32605, USA phn: 352-367-9128 web: http://www.itec-edu.org In Panama: 011-507-6853-2134 laha...@gmail.com Bocas del Toro Biological Station Boca del Drago, Isla Colon, Panama Field Station Manager, Enrique Dixon 011-507-6624-9246
