University of North Carolina at
Wilmington
Summer Study in Roatan, Honduras:
Integrated Field Research in Coral Reef Ecology
June 5, - July 14, 2000
(6 weeks; 12 credits)
OFFERED FOR EITHER UNDERGRADUATE OR GRADUATE CREDIT
ffff,0000,0000DEADLINE FOR REGISTERING: JANUARY
15, 2000
INSTRUCTORS: from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington,
Dept of Biological Sciences
Dr. Alina M. Szmant, reef corals and invertebrates
Dr. Ileana E. Clavijo, coral reef fishes
Dr. Craig Bailey, coral reef alage
COURSE NUMBERS AND TITLES
BIO 485-A /585-A(3 credits): Ecology of reef corals and other
invertebrates
BIO 485-A /585-ALab (1 credit): Laboratory
BIO 485-B /585-B(3 credits): Ecology of coral reef algae
BIO 485-B/585-B Lab (1 credit): Laboratory
BIO 485-C/585-C (3 credits): Ecology of coral reef fishes
BIO 485-C/585-C Lab (1 credit): Laboratory
Students must register for all twelve credit hours.
Prerequisites: prior course work in coral reef ecology, marine
biology, marine science or similar course, and permission of
instructors
Three of the 6 weeks (the field protion) of this course will be spent
living and working in the rustic tropical facilties of the Roatan
Institute for Marine Sciences, located on the largest of the Bay Islands,
on the Caribbean coast of Honduras. This island is fringed with
mangroves and small fishing villages, and boasts among the best developed
barrier reefs in the Caribbean. Lodging will be provided by the Antony
Key Resort, a well known dive destination in the Caribbean.
This is a research-intensive field course for students who have already
had formal course work on coral reef ecology, marine ecology, marine
biology or similar coursework. Students will be taught by the three
instructors how to identify and study three major groups of coral reef
organisms: marine invertebrates, algae and fishes.
Reef corals and major groups of coral reef dwelling invertebrates will
be studied from the point of view of their functional roles in forming
and sustaining coral reef function. Aspects to be examined include life
history strategies, tropho-dynamics and co-evolution of interactions with
other functional groups such as reef algae and fishes. The course will
stress the ecological importance of macro- and microalgae found in reef
ecosystems. Field-work will focus on the identification and distribution
of common species. Morphological and physiological adaptations of
keystone species will also be discussed. Interactions among algal groups
and between algae and other inhabitants of reefs will be examined
experimentally. In addition, species that play especially important
biogeochemical roles in reef ecosystems will be emphasized. An
ecological and ethological approach to the study of reef fishes will be
emphasized with field research to test theories and problems such as
ecological niche, competition, social systems, reproduction, recruitment
and population biology.
Students will visit a wide variety of coral reef habitats (patch reefs,
bank reefs, barrier reefs, fore-reef v.s. back-reef, etc.), as well as
associated marine environments (seagrass beds and mangrove forests),
making observations on the characteristic community structure at each
site. Students will work on individual taxonomic projects for each of
the three groups of organisms, and keep a journal on their ecological
observations of their selected groups during the field excursions. They
will also work in small groups on field experiments designed by the
instructors to both demonstrate important ecological relationships
between these major floral/faunal groups, and to provide new data to
important areas of coral reef research. Students will be guided through
setting up the experiments, collecting and analyzing the data, and
preparing written and oral research reports. They will learn how to
execute a wide variety of field methods, and use both laboratory and
field instrumentation under real research conditions. They will be
included as co-authors of any research publication that is based on their
research efforts.
During the Roatan portion of the course there will be additional
enrichment lectures and tours to learn about the local and Mayan cultures
and tropical terrestrial environments.
Classes will meet on the UNCW campus during the first week of the course
to discuss and organize the specific research projects (students will be
expected to participate full-time during this period). Students and
faculty will then fly as a group from Wilmington to Roatan, via Miami.
After the 3-week field portion, students will return to the UNCW campus
to finalize data analysis and prepare their oral presentations. There
will be two days off during the 3rd and 4th of July.
The course is limited to 12 students. Students will be selected based
on appropriate background and grades.
ffff,0000,0000A $500 deposit will be needed by
January 15th, 2000, to secure a place.
Cost: Estimated Cost $4,600 PLUS Tuition. (Cost will be lower for
those that do not need room and board during the 3 weeks at UNCW)
Tuition for 12 credit hours estimated at : In-State at $1,034 ; Out-of
State at $4669.
Includes: airfare from Wilmington, other ground transportation, all room
and board both at UNCW and in Roatan, all laboratory, field, boat and
diving costs in Roatan, DAN diving insurance, study abroad insurance, and
the international student ID card. This is an all-inclusive package, and
the only additional costs would be personal items such as sodas,
post-cards, etc.
For further information, application forms, and to register, contact:
outDr. Alina M. Szmant
UNCW Department of Biological Sciences
601 South College Rd.
Wilmington NC 28403-3297
(910)962-7574
FAX: (910)962-4066
szmanta@uncwil.edu
or (same mailing address):
Dr. Ileana Clavijo; (910)962-3472; email clavijo@uncwil.edu
Dr. Craig Bailey: (910)962-7589; email: baileyc@uncwil.edu
Payment Schedule:
January 15, 2000: Deadline for application with non-refundable**
$500 deposit (turn in to Office of International Programs,
University Union 103A, or to Dr. Craig Bailey, Dept. of Biology, tel #
(910)962-7589).
** unless program cancelled due to insufficeint enrollment or other
problem
February 1, 2000: Final date for required number of
applicants for summer program to go,
March 1, 2000: Due date for additional non-refundable
payment of $1,000 to cover purchase of airplane tickets, and of
submission of paper-work of obtaining visas to Honduras.
April 1, 2000: Due date for additional non-refundable
payment of $2,100 to cover lodging and board in Roatan.
April 29, 2000: Due date for balance of program cost
(approx. $1,000) due to OIP.
Schedule for additional payment of tuition (estimated $1,034 for
instate, $4669 for out-of-state) is based on the UNCW summer registration
schedule . Last day for registration is May 22nd, 2000.
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PRESENT ADDRESS:
Dr. Alina M. Szmant
Professor of Biology, and Coral Reef Research
Department of Biological Sciences
University of North Carolina at Wilmington
601 South College Road
Wilmington NC 28403
tel: (910)962-7574 fax: (910)962-4066
email: szmanta@uncwil.edu
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The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
sponsors coral-list and the Coral Health and Monitoring Program
(CHAMP, http://www.coral.noaa.gov). Please visit the Web site
for instructions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list.
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