COURSE GOALS AND DESCRIPTION

This course is directed to students interested in biological anthropology, primatology, tropical ecology, rainforest conservation, and field biology. Each day the professor and graduate teaching assistants work intensively with students, present lectures, and provide background information to help students develop a conceptual framework for understanding the diversity and complexity of tropical forest ecosystems. Lectures, training in field techniques, examples of animal-plant interactions and observations of primate behavior are designed to help students develop individual research projects.  Each student or group of students (depending on the class) is required to write a research proposal to conduct a field project, collect field data to test a set of hypotheses on primate behavior and ecology, and write a final report during the course.  

GRADING

You will receive 2 grades for this course. The first grade is for Field Techniques in Biological Anthropology. This part of the course involves supervised participation in data collecting techniques and field methods. This includes both lectures and field activities directed to learning (1) methods of vegetation sampling in tropical rainforests, (2) methods of collecting information on temporal changes in resource availability in the rainforest, (3) mapping a field site, and (4) methods of collecting data on the behavior and ecology of free-ranging nonhuman primates [3 credits or 1 graduate unit].  

Your grade for this part of the course is based on: mastery of techniques during the 6 day rotation schedule (50%), score on the mid-term essay exam based on class lectures (see lecture schedule below) (40%), and cooperation and ability to work with others (10%)  

The second grade is for Research Design and Data Analysis which includes (1) developing a field project and writing a 5-8 page research proposal, (2) collection and  evaluation, of your field data, (3) analysis and  preparation of a written research report  (20+ pages) based on your individual research project, and (4) oral and powerpoint presentation of your research results.  

At least 1 draft of your research proposal is required.  The first draft is due 20 days before the beginning of the course and students are required to bring 5 hard copies of their 2nd draft with them to Costa Rica.  I will give students comments on each draft, but only grade their final draft which is due during the first week of the field course.  The research proposal accounts for 25% of your grade, collecting data for an independent research project counts for 25% of your grade, analyzing the results of the research project and writing a final report counts for 25% of your grade, and your oral presentation of research results counts for 25% of your grade. [3 credits or 1 graduate unit]  

Overall, this course is equivalent to a four hour upper division undergraduate/graduate level course at the University of Illinois, Urbana (for example).  

Attendance at all lectures, presentations, and discussions is required.  

ASSIGNMENTS

Field Techniques: Rotate through each field activity every 1-2 days. Group report each evening. Meet with faculty each evening to discuss the schedule, activities, and equipment you need for the following day (first 4-6 days of the course)  

Examination: Multiple choice exam the day before the beginning of field projects.  

Research Proposal: due on or before the examination. What is required is a 5 page written proposal indicating the OBJECTIVES AND SIGNIFICANCE, BACKGROUND, RESEARCH QUESTIONS (HYPOTHESES), METHODS, SUMMARY of your project. RESEARCH PROJECTS MUST BE APPROVED BEFORE YOU CAN BEGIN YOUR PROJECT. Detailed descriptions and definitions of behavioral/ecological variables studied should be included in an appendix. All proposals must also include a sample data sheet.  

Research Proposal: I will provide each student with a list of topics for a research project and an outline of how to write a research proposal. All drafts of your proposal prior to arriving in Costa Rica should be sent to me electronically. I will provide comments on the proposal and a second draft of your proposal before come in to Costa Rica.  

REQUIRED TEXTS
(Please order on your own from campus book store or the internet).
 
Strier, KB (most recent edition). Primate Behavioral Ecology. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.  

Milton, K 1980. The Foraging Strategy of Howler Monkeys: A Study in Primate Economics. New York: Columbia University Press.  

READING ASSIGNMENTS

May 25 – May 28 Reading - Milton pages 1-98 & Strier pages 1-65  

May 29 – June 1 - January 5th Reading - Milton pages 98-150  & Strier pages 168-250  

June 2 - 3 HOUR ESSAY EXAMINATION (6:00pm-9:00pm)  

June 3 – Review proposal-Practice in the field  

June 4 – June 10 Data Collection  

June 11 – Day Break (data analysis)  

Junes 12 – June 13 Visit Tortuguero NP  

June 16 - Each student must hand in a final written paper by 6:00 PM detailing the results of their research.
The paper must be written as a scientific article and include a TITLE PAGE, ABSTRACT, Introduction (brief theoretical statement indicating the research questions), METHODS (be extremely specific and detailed), RESULTS (present the data), DISCUSSION (describe how your results compare to similar research on other species or theoretical issues in the field), CONCLUSIONS (list 4 conclusions of your research), REFERENCES, TABLES, FIGURES.  

June 17 - Primate Behavior and Ecology Symposium at La Suerte: Each student will give an oral presentation sharing the results of their research project. Presentations cannot be read. You can use note cards note figures/tables and powerpoint files to assist in the presentation.
As in scientific meetings you will have a maximum of 15 minutes for the presentation and 5-10 minutes for discussion.  
June 17 EVENING - PACK and FAREWELL PARTY

June 18 SO LONG, FAREWELL, GOOD-BYE! Leave La Suerte and travel to San Jose.
Spend night at hotel in San Jose/Alajuela. Tourist shopping  

June 18 Return to the United States (or other countries)  

COURSE LECTURE SCHEDULE

There will be lectures scheduled every day before the exam. Generally lectures will be from 4:30-6:00pm.
Lecture topics include:

1. Orientation regarding safety, procedures and behavior at La suerte, course goals, and course requirements

2. Introduction to primate behavior and ecology, primate traits, and theories of primate origins

3. Ancestral and derived traits, parallel and convergent evolution

4. The evolutionary history of New World Primates

5. Problems of primate locomotion and anatomical solutions

6. Body size, feeding ecology and the problems primates face when exploiting fruit, leaf, and insect resources

7. Spatial information, cognition, and perceptual cues in primate foraging behavior.

8. Rainforest ecology and primate conservation.

9. Ecotourism, bananas, and globalization

10. Ethics in animal research

11. Primate cognitive ecology: use of social and ecological information in decision-making

12. Primate social systems

13. Cooperation and competition: The evolution of sociality  

Some classes may change topics.  

After the exam we will have meeting discussing the several experiences we will have in the forest when collecting data, invited lectures, and other activities.  

The forest is a very personal experience: Difficult to describe and impossible to photograph. It is more than 3 dimensional: space, sights, colors, textures, sounds, experiences. On the last full day at La Suerte please take the time to walk around the forest by yourself so that you can leave with a final and quiet memory of your time here. Your experience here will be very intense. Try to maintain your energy, but if you are having physical or emotional problems, please let us know. We have been through this before and we can help. The entire La Suerte staff is here to help.

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POLICIES GOVERNING ACADEMIC INTEGRITY  

Codes of Conduct and Academic Integrity. I expect all students to adhere to codes of conduct and academic integrity that is outlined in the University of Illinois student handbook. The handbook can be found on line at and clearly spells out penalties for academic dishonesty, plagiarism, and appropriate and inappropriate conduct. The field course runs 7 days per week for 24 hours a day from July 20-August 14th and I expect all students to behavior accordingly.

Dismissal Policy:
This policy is set by the University of Illinois Code of Policies and Regulations Applying to all students  

1. Any behavior that endangers another person or property can result in immediate dismissal

2. Conduct with id undesirable and in violation of the University’s Code of Policies and Regulations including policies on drugs and alcohol

3. Conduct that is in violation of the laws, rules and regulations, and customs of the host country

4. Behavior, whether academic or social, which constitutes a clear and present danger to the health or safety of persons or property, or threatens the future viability of the program.

5. Physical or sexual assault; harassment, unlawful possession, use or distribution of illegal drugs, alcohol abuse, setting a fire or possession of explosives, possession of a weapon, threat.


Responsible Use of Alcohol:   ( includes the following)

1. A student does not miss any scheduled event because of the effects of alcohol consumption.

2. A student does not become ill due to the effects of alcohol consumption

3. A student is respectful of others sharing the same housing

4. A student does not engage in inappropriate behavior toward other individuals that is the result of alcohol consumption

5. A student does not engage in destructive behavior toward property that is the result of alcohol Consumption

6. Use of illegal drugs is not permitted at the field station. The penalties and penal conditions for illegal drug use in Nicaragua are EXTREMELY severe. If the police catch anyone using illegal drugs, that person(s) will be prosecuted. If the staff of Ometepe catch you using illegal drugs, you will be immediately dismissed from the field school and sent home

7. A student abides by the laws of the country in which he or she is living