OTS 2006-3 Tropical Biology: An Ecological Approach 9 June – 31 July 2006 (arrive 8 June, depart 1 August 2006) 8 Graduate Semester Credit Hours granted by the University of Costa Rica Coordinators: Dr. Peter Sherman Dr. Anthony Ippolito Duke University, OTS [Application forms are available online through www.ots.duke.edu]   Application Deadline: March 20, 2006 Announcement of Selections: April 18, 2006 ORGANIZATION FOR TROPICAL STUDIES Box 90630 Durham, NC 27708-0630 Phone: (919) 684-5774 Fax: (919) 684-5661 Email: Sites Visited Post-course Opportunities Application Submission Orientation Eligibility Application Form Group Field Problems Preparation Orientation Materials Independent Research Cost and Application Information OTS Member Institutions   Tropical Biology is the Organization for Tropical Studies' (OTS') oldest course, offered every year since 1964. The course is an intensive, seven-week field introduction to tropical biology for 22 graduate students enrolled in degree programs at OTS member institutions. Two full-time faculty teach Tropical Biology with assistance from 20 or more guest scientists who join the course for periods ranging from a single lecture to three weeks. Numerous topics in tropical ecology are covered during the course, including: Introduction to the flora and fauna of Costa Rica Costa Rican geography and climate Forest dynamics Biodiversity Demography and seasonality of plants and animals Plant-animal interactions Conservation biology and restoration projects Ecology of the high- and mid- elevation tropics Ecology of Pacific laguna and intertidal zones Frugivory and seed dispersal dynamics Vertical stratification in tropical forests At each site, course activities include orientation walks, faculty-led field-problems, and independent research. Sites Visited Tropical Biology is a highly mobile course that travels by bus and occasionally on hikes of up to 25 kilometers to approximately six field sites throughout Costa Rica. The field sites represent most of the major ecosystem types in the country and range from very well studied to almost unexplored. Along the way, the course will visit all three OTS field stations, including La Selva Biological Station, a large and well-developed research station in the Caribbean lowlands. La Selva has over 1,500 hectares of old growth and second growth forests with an extensive trail system and well-equipped laboratories. Las Cruces Biological Station located at 1,200 meters elevation has a world-class plant collection in the Wilson Botanical Garden and an associated 160 hectare tract of old growth rain forest. The station maintains shade houses and a laboratory. Las Cruces is located in the southern part of the country near the Panamanian border and La Amistad National Park. Palo Verde Biological Station is in the heart of Palo Verde National Park, located in dry forest in the northwestern province of Guanacaste. The seasonally wet (May to November) ecosystem includes freshwater marshes that attract an array of waterfowl. The course also visits mid- and high- elevation sites (Monteverde, Las Alturas, and Cerro de la Muerte) and Cabo Blanco National Park, a Pacific coast site on the tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, with transition dry-moist forest and a spectacular tidal lagoon. Some sites are in remote areas with no electricity or telephones. Living conditions are cramped so students need to be flexible in their personal needs. Orientation On the first day at each of the several locations, orientation walks introduce small groups of students to this site. The walks focus on the plants and animals of the habitat and include discussion of major ecological factors (such as biotic interactions, climate, soils) that shape local ecosystems. The history of the site and local conservation issues are also explored. Whenever possible, the second day at a site will be set aside for students to explore the site and consider options for independent projects. Faculty Field Problems Beginning on the third day at each site, students break into small groups to participate in short (usually two-day) field problems designed by faculty in consultation with the students. These problems employ field observations and experiments to test hypotheses, and are followed by data analysis and presentation of results. The faculty lead one or two field problems in areas of their own expertise at each field site. Examples from recently completed courses include: Use of stable isotopes to characterize soil on leaf-cutter ant mounds Morphology of páramo plants along an altitudinal gradient Terrestrial arthropod diversity on either side of the Continental Divide The effect of larval saliva in preventing cannibalism in a social wasp Bat diversity and wing morphometrics in different life zones of Costa Rica Ferns as an indicator of forest and soil type at La Selva Monkeys as dispersers of Brosimum alicastrum fruits at Palo Verde Independent Research Tropical Biology students undertake extended independent research on a topic of their choice and present their results to their peers. In a recent course, student research included: Levels of herbivory on plants near unpalatable cycads Pollinator visits to female begonia flowers with no pollen reward Foliar pathogens in two different forest types at Palo Verde Effects of substrate complexity on fighting behavior of hermit crabs The invasion of the exotic ylang-ylang at La Selva A new web symbiont found in a Tengella spider web at Las Cruces A survey of water quality at Palo Verde The life and times of the warty sea cat in the Cabo Blanco intertidal zone The avian community on Pacific and Atlantic slopes at Cerro de la Muerte Effects of shell size on mobility of hermit crabs Effect of sampling area on number of rare spider species detected A survey of macrofungi of Costa Rica After the course concludes, OTS publishes a coursebook that compiles all research reports and also includes photos, species lists, course songs, and other materials. The book is available to course participants at cost. Post-course Opportunities Course participants are eligible for small grants to support post-course research. Grants support short term research projects at OTS field stations that begin either immediately following the course, or up to a year after the course ends. Also following the course, some students may visit the Barro Colorado Island research station in Panama, with station fees covered by STRI (Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute). Eligibility Applicants must be enrolled in, or accepted for, a graduate degree program. Selection of participants is highly competitive; enrollment is limited to 22 students. Preference is given to students enrolled in OTS member institutions and others are seldom accepted. Graduate students from the European Tropical Biology Association member institutions are also eligible to apply at the OTS member student rate. Preparation The course is taught in English. However, Spanish is very useful and participants are strongly encouraged to develop even rudimentary skills in Spanish. Costs Total course costs exceeds $7,500 per student. In effect, all students from OTS member institutions receive a scholarship of $5,000. Students from Latin American universities that are members of OTS may apply for additional fellowship support. (1) Application fee:           $25 (2) Course fee: OTS member students            $2,500 Non-OTS member students     $7,500 (3)Personal expenses are additional (4)Transportation to Costa Rica is   additional (1) A processing fee of $25 must accompany the completed application. (2) The course fee covers room, board, and field travel during the course, and must be paid prior to the course. (3) Personal expenses such as laundry, mail, entertainment, visas, insurance, medical expenses, gifts, etc. are not covered. Also, students planning additional time in Costa Rica before or after the course should allow $30-40 per day extra. (4) Students are to make their own travel arrangements. The cost of airfare varies tremendously (from $350-950), so local travel agents should be consulted. Advance-purchase discounts may be substantial. Application Submission Applications should be submitted to your OTS Delegate. There are two Delegates at each OTS-member institution and their names can be found on the OTS home page http://www.ots.duke.edu or by contacting: Organization for Tropical Studies Tel. (919) 684-5774 Fax (919) 684-5661 E-mail: <ots@duke.edu>> Provide the OTS Delegate with an addressed/stamped envelope: Organization for Tropical Studies Box 90630 Durham, NC 27708-0630 Street address: 410 Swift Ave., Durham, NC 27705 Applications should be submitted to your OTS representative with sufficient lead time so applications can be reviewed and mailed to arrive at OTS by the application deadline date. See your OTS delegate for requested date of submission. Four applications, ranked by the OTS Delegate(s), may be submitted per course from each institution. Generally speaking, a maximum of two students may be accepted. Orientation Materials Orientation Packet PDF file (308kb)   Book List PDF file (21kb)   Costa Rica Map JPEG file (192kb) San Jose Map TIF file (378 kb) Reprint List PDF file (163kb)   San Jose Map JPEG file (138kb)