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<P>Fundación Cientifica Los Roques.</P>
<P>Coral reef Biology and Ecology. </P>
<P>July 2 – 14, 2000. </P></B></FONT>
<P align=justify>The Fundación Científica los Roques (FCLR), the University of
Puerto Rico and the Universidad Simon Bolivar announce the second intensive
summer course in coral reef biology and ecology. The course will take place at
the Dos Mosquises Marine Laboratory of the FCLR located on the southwest corner
of the Archipiélago Los Roques National Park, an atoll-like reef complex 110 km
north of the Venezuelan main coast. This reef complex boasts some of the best
developed and diverse coral reefs in the Caribbean, it is far away from
continental influence and has minimum anthropogenic impacts.</P>
<P align=justify>The course concentrates on topics such as evolution of reef
communities, clonality as an evolutionary successful strategy, biology and
ecological roles of sponges, octocorals and scleractinian corals, coral
diseases, current anthropogenic and natural threats, ecological methods and a
special session on sea-grass communities and interaction with reefs. Two hour of
lecture are given in the mornings and evenings (4h/day) with about 6h/day of
field and lab work. Students work the data gathered, plan and give presentations
of results at the end. Field and lab work will include taxonomic identification,
reef and sea-grass community characterization and structure, reef status
assessment, coral diseases, identification and incidence, ecological and
monitoring methods, etc. Each student must prepare a 15 minute seminar talk on a
topic about coral reefs before arriving to Los Roques. </P>
<P align=justify></P>
<P align=justify>The course is intended for advanced undergraduate and graduate
students. Strong backgrounds in evolution ecology and biology of tropical marine
invertebrates are required. Diving certification and more that 100 logged dives.
The Fundación Científica Los Roques reserves the right to reject applications
that do not comply with the requirements</P>
<P align=justify></P><B><FONT size=4>
<P align=justify>Faculty :</P></B>
<P align=justify></P></FONT>
<P align=justify>Ernesto Weil, Ph.D. Associate Professor. Dep. of Marine
Sciences. U. of Puerto Rico, and Associate Researcher of the Fundación
Cientifica Los Roques..</P>
<P align=justify></P>
<P align=justify>Sven Zea, Ph.D. Associate Professor. Department of Biology,
Universidad Nacional de Colombia-INVEMAR.</P>
<P align=justify></P>
<P align=justify>David Bone, Ph.D. Associate Professor. Department of Biology U.
Simón Bolívar, Caracas. Venezuela.</P>
<P align=justify></P>
<P align=justify> </P><B>
<P align=justify>Cost:</B> The course cost is US $ 1,000.00 per student. This
includes tuition fees, dive activities, room and board, round trip
transportation from Caracas, limited insurance and registration. Each
participant will be required to sign a liability release form at arrival. </P>
<P align=justify></P><B>
<P>Pre-Registration:<FONT size=4> </B></FONT>At this time<B><FONT size=4>
</B></FONT>we are requesting a letter stating your interest in the course. The
letter should also include a statement of why you want to take the course,
information about your background (courses taken, school, degrees, etc.) and
what do you expect to gain from this course. Letters should be send to Dr.
Ernesto Weil at the address below or via e-mail. Selected applicants will be
notified via e-mail by the end of February and the application guidelines will
be sent out.</P></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Dr. Ernesto Weil<BR>Depart. of Marine Sciences, UPR<BR>PO BOX
908 Lajas PR 00667<BR>Ph. (787) 899-2048 x. 241<BR>FAX (787)
899-2630/899-5500.</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>