[ECOLOG-L] Tropical Ornithology field Course in Panama

[Peter Lahanas]

Neotropical Ornithology Course Description.
 
2013 SUMMER COURSE ANNOUNCEMENT (July 15-August 9)
 
FIELD COURSE IN NEOTROPICAL ORNITHOLOGY
 
COURSE LOCATION: Bocas del Toro Biological Station, Boca del Drago, Isla
Colon, Republic of Panama.  The biological station is located on a hill
facing the Caribbean Sea.  The island has a mix of cultivated land, mangrove
habitats, and forest patches.  See: http://www.itec-edu.org/index.html
 for details.
 
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Andrew Kratter, University of Florida, Florida Museum of
Natural History, Gainesville, FL 32611, email: krat...@flmnh.ufl.edu
 
Specialties: Community ecology of tropical forest birds. Taxonomy,
systematics, and biogeography of New World birds
 
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is designed to provide students with a solid foundation in the
study and identification of Neotropical birds in the Republic of Panama.
Course will emphasize three components of Neotropical Ornithology: (1)
introductory information regarding the biology, evolution, natural history,
ecology, and conservation of birds with special reference to the biology and
ecology of Neotropical birds (2) building identification skills for finding
and identifying birds of the tropical rain forest, and aquatic and marine
habitats in the Bocas del Toro arcipelago and nearby mainland areas (3)
techniques of experimental design for conducting an ecological/behavior
study of a selected species. All aspects of our study of birds is set
against and within the tropical habitats of Panama.
Basic Requirements
Attendance and participation in all activities including lectures,
discussion groups, identification trips, field trips to selected habitats,
completion of individual study project, presentation of projects to class
for group discussion are required to complete this course. Everyone should
plan on bringing a good pair of binoculars. I will provide a spotting scope
for identification sessions. A laptop computer will also prove useful.
Required Texts
Angehr, G. R. and R. Dean. 2010. The Birds of Panama: A Field Guide.
Comstock Publishing. ISBN-13: 978-0801476747
Hilty, Stephen. 1994. Birds of Tropical America. Chapters Publishing Ltd.
Shelburne, Vermont..
 
Outcomes and Learning
At the conclusion of this course the student will:
1. Have a sound introduction to the biology and ecology of tropical birds in
the Panamanian habitats
2. Gain an introduction to the selected literature about neotropical birds
of the Panamanian area with emphasis on tropical rain forest birds.
3. Have the skills to identify selected tropical rain forest birds
4. Have the requisite skills to identify tropical rain forest birds
5. Have the requisite skills to develop an experimental design of ecological
or behavioral study of tropical rain forest birds.
Course Outline
First half of the course includes lectures and field trips for finding and
identifying neotropical birds. Second half of the course emphasizes field
identification techniques, building species lists with trips to additional
tropical habitats, and individual projects involving studying the
ecology/behavior of a particular species.
Bird Biology Lecture Topics
Introduction to birds
External anatomy of birds
Evolution of birds with special emphasis on tropics
Introduction to phylogenetic methods
Speciation and species concepts
Adaptations for an mechanisms of bird flight
Physiology of birds
Breeding biology of tropical birds
Molt in tropical birds
Feathers and coloration of birds
Bird communication
Foraging in tropical birds
Community Ecology of tropical birds, competition, predation, etc.
Conservation of tropical birds
 
Birding skills and projects
Equipment for bird identification
Finding birds in the tropical rain forest
Review/work on individual research project
 
Field trips
Nocturnal birds of the tropical rain forest
Field trip to Cloud Forest
Field trips to nearby islands, shore/coastal habitats
Supervised studies; students will have the change to be involved in
projects.
 
General Bibliography
  Wetmore, A. 1965-1973. The birds of the Republic of Panama. Parts
I-III. Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections. Volume 150.
  Wetmore, A., R. F. Pasquier, and S. L. Olson. 1984. The birds of the
Republic of Panama. Part IV. Smithsonian Institute Press Washington, D. C.
  Gentry, A. H. 1990. Four Neotropical forests. Yale University Press.
New Haven, Connecticut.
  Hilty, Stephen. 1994. Birds of Tropical America. Chapters Publishing
Ltd. Shelburne, Vermont. 304 pages.
  Ridgeway, R. S. and J. A. Gwynne, Jr. A Guide to the Birds of Panama.
2nd edition. Princeton University Press. Princeton University Press. 534
pages.
Terborgh, J. 1992. Diversity and the tropical rain forest. W. H. Freeman and
Company. New York, New York.
 
COURSE LENG

[ECOLOG-L] Tropical Ornithology Field Course in Panama

[Peter Lahanas]

Neotropical Ornithology Course Description.
 
2013 SUMMER COURSE ANNOUNCEMENT (July 15-August 9)
 
FIELD COURSE IN NEOTROPICAL ORNITHOLOGY
 
COURSE LOCATION: Bocas del Toro Biological Station, Boca del Drago, Isla
Colon, Republic of Panama.  The biological station is located on a hill
facing the Caribbean Sea.  The island has a mix of cultivated land, mangrove
habitats, and forest patches.  See: http://www.itec-edu.org/index.html
 for details.
 
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Andrew Kratter, University of Florida, Florida Museum of
Natural History, Gainesville, FL 32611, email: krat...@flmnh.ufl.edu
 
Specialties: Community ecology of tropical forest birds. Taxonomy,
systematics, and biogeography of New World birds
 
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is designed to provide students with a solid foundation in the
study and identification of Neotropical birds in the Republic of Panama.
Course will emphasize three components of Neotropical Ornithology: (1)
introductory information regarding the biology, evolution, natural history,
ecology, and conservation of birds with special reference to the biology and
ecology of Neotropical birds (2) building identification skills for finding
and identifying birds of the tropical rain forest, and aquatic and marine
habitats in the Bocas del Toro arcipelago and nearby mainland areas (3)
techniques of experimental design for conducting an ecological/behavior
study of a selected species. All aspects of our study of birds is set
against and within the tropical habitats of Panama.
Basic Requirements
Attendance and participation in all activities including lectures,
discussion groups, identification trips, field trips to selected habitats,
completion of individual study project, presentation of projects to class
for group discussion are required to complete this course. Everyone should
plan on bringing a good pair of binoculars. I will provide a spotting scope
for identification sessions. A laptop computer will also prove useful.
Required Texts
Angehr, G. R. and R. Dean. 2010. The Birds of Panama: A Field Guide.
Comstock Publishing. ISBN-13: 978-0801476747
Hilty, Stephen. 1994. Birds of Tropical America. Chapters Publishing Ltd.
Shelburne, Vermont..
 
Outcomes and Learning
At the conclusion of this course the student will:
1. Have a sound introduction to the biology and ecology of tropical birds in
the Panamanian habitats
2. Gain an introduction to the selected literature about neotropical birds
of the Panamanian area with emphasis on tropical rain forest birds.
3. Have the skills to identify selected tropical rain forest birds
4. Have the requisite skills to identify tropical rain forest birds
5. Have the requisite skills to develop an experimental design of ecological
or behavioral study of tropical rain forest birds.
Course Outline
First half of the course includes lectures and field trips for finding and
identifying neotropical birds. Second half of the course emphasizes field
identification techniques, building species lists with trips to additional
tropical habitats, and individual projects involving studying the
ecology/behavior of a particular species.
Bird Biology Lecture Topics
Introduction to birds
External anatomy of birds
Evolution of birds with special emphasis on tropics
Introduction to phylogenetic methods
Speciation and species concepts
Adaptations for an mechanisms of bird flight
Physiology of birds
Breeding biology of tropical birds
Molt in tropical birds
Feathers and coloration of birds
Bird communication
Foraging in tropical birds
Community Ecology of tropical birds, competition, predation, etc.
Conservation of tropical birds
 
Birding skills and projects
Equipment for bird identification
Finding birds in the tropical rain forest
Review/work on individual research project
 
Field trips
Nocturnal birds of the tropical rain forest
Field trip to Cloud Forest
Field trips to nearby islands, shore/coastal habitats
Supervised studies; students will have the change to be involved in
projects.
 
General Bibliography
  Wetmore, A. 1965-1973. The birds of the Republic of Panama. Parts
I-III. Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections. Volume 150.
  Wetmore, A., R. F. Pasquier, and S. L. Olson. 1984. The birds of the
Republic of Panama. Part IV. Smithsonian Institute Press Washington, D. C.
  Gentry, A. H. 1990. Four Neotropical forests. Yale University Press.
New Haven, Connecticut.
  Hilty, Stephen. 1994. Birds of Tropical America. Chapters Publishing
Ltd. Shelburne, Vermont. 304 pages.
  Ridgeway, R. S. and J. A. Gwynne, Jr. A Guide to the Birds of Panama.
2nd edition. Princeton University Press. Princeton University Press. 534
pages.
Terborgh, J. 1992. Diversity and the tropical rain forest. W. H. Freeman and
Company. New York, New York.
 
COURSE LENG