FROM RAIN FOREST TO CORAL REEFS - THE SUNY-ESF TROPICAL ECOLOGY TRIP TO DOMINICA, WEST INDIES

摘要

Tropical Ecology, a 3-credit hour spring semester course offered to undergraduate and graduate students, is taught both on campus and at the Springfield Centre field station on the Caribbean island of Dominica, W.I. for 10 days over students' spring break. Two faculty with complementary backgrounds, such as in terrestrial and aquatic ecology, or in plant and animal ecology, teach the course to 8-16 students. Individual or group research outlines are prepared on campus by students for ecological projects to be undertaken on-site at the rain forest field station. Trips around the island include visits to tropical dry forest, montane and lowland rain forest, littoral forest and elfin forest as well as marine coral reefs. A $2,000 course fee covers airtravel to Dominica, tours on the island and room and board at Springfield. Upon return to Syracuse, students analyze project data and make oral presentations to the group. The course is a service learning project that makes educational contributions to individuals and institutions in Dominica.