PCB 4044 General Ecology or WIS 4941 Wildlife Ecology (5 transfer credits)
Since 1993, Mark Brenner has served as coordinator for this 6-week summer Overseas Studies course. The Tropical Ecology course presents an overview of the ecology of the Yucatan Peninsula and is taught primarily in English by faculty members from the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science at the Autonomous University of Yucatan (UADY). The class provides some basic background in ecology and moves on to explore a number of ecosystems on the peninsula.
Among the topics covered: climate and karst geology, freshwater ecosystems (cenotes and lakes), coastal saline lagoons and mangroves, marine reefs and beaches, vegetation (low and high forest). We examine the history of these natural systems and evaluate how they are being altered by human activities. We look at traditional agricultural practices (e.g. milpa and kitchen gardens [solares]), and discuss how henequen (Agave fourcroydes) production transformed local landscapes. We also explore the implications of recent widespread citrus agriculture and cattle ranching, as well as the impacts of tourism. Classes are held two days a week, with Thursday-Saturday typically used for field excursions. Field trips include outings to caves, cenotes, lakes, springs, coastal mangroves, salt ponds, Caribbean beaches and reefs, offshore islands, low and high forest, indigenous agricultural systems, and Maya archaeological sites.
Students are asked to keep a "Photo Journal" of their excursions to be turned in each week. These journals serve a dual purpose as a learning tool and tangible memories of excursions which in the past have included: Tasting Mayan medicinal plants in a solar, searching for spider and howler monkeys, watching sea turtles lay eggs on the beach, snorkling in the Caribbean and a Night Walk to collect herps.
