TROPICAL ECOLOGY - USM 3-23-10
TROPICAL ECOLOGY
BSC 404/L 8W2 T 1:00-3:40 pm WSB 153 plus two week field trip May 17 – 31, 2010
Spring 2010
PROFESSOR: Aimée K. Thomas
Office: MSHall Basement 005B; 601.266.6374 e-mail: aimee.lee@usm.edu
Office Hours: by appointment
SYLLABUS
COURSE DESCRIPTION: An overview of the ecology of tropical ecosystems, followed by
two weeks in the field in a tropical country studying the plants and animals in several different
ecological zones: coral reefs, pine savannah, rain forest, mangrove swamps. A paper will be
written on the ecology of the area and other aspects of the trip prior to the trip and an oral
presentation will be given within a month of returning from Belize.
EXPECTED STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
 To share knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of Tropical Ecology;
 To be able to use the scientific literature;
 To proficiently view and understand basic habitats and their relationships, and to use field
observation techniques;
 To logically apply techniques of scientific evaluation when addressing challenges
associated with natural and human-caused environmental changes;
 To be able to communicate science effectively in oral and written form;
 To be an advocate for scientifically based decisions in biology-related societal issues.
TEXTS:
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Forsyth, Adrian and Ken Miyata. 1984. Tropical Nature. Life and Death in the Rain
Forests of Central and South America. Scribners.
Rabinowitz, A. 2000. Jaguar: One Man’s Struggle to Establish the World’s First
Jaguar Preserve. Rev. Island Press.
Assorted papers listed in the bibliography.
LOYOLA UNIVERSITY: This course is being taught at Loyola, by Professor Frank Jordan,
and that class will accompany us on the trip to Belize.
CLASS COMMUNICATION (REQUIRED): I will often communicate with the class via
email. You must have an email account and it must be updated (the one you are actually using on
a day-to-day basis) so that I can batch email the class. Check often (daily) or you will definitely
miss important information. Not getting the messages is not a valid excuse – you snooze, you
lose. Both of the following must be done by the end of the first week of classes:
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Website: Many elements of this course will be available to you on my website
(http://ocean.otr.usm.edu/~w305373/). You may find announcements, corrections to the
syllabus (including due dates), clarifications, references, lectures, etc. You are well
advised to check it often.
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
E-mail address: Provide the professor a working e-mail address.
SUPPLIES: You should choose from the supplies checklist those items you will need during the
travel portion of the course. You should share items with classmates and fellow travelers. This
topic will be discussed in class. The following are required: binoculars, snorkel/dive equipment,
journal, clothes, and deodorant.
GRADING SYSTEM: The grade will be based on exams, class participation, attendance on the
field trip, keeping a journal, and completing projects.
 Exams: The exams will represent 52% of the final grade (400 pts).
 Pre-Belize Lake Thoreau Field Trip: Mandatory. 3% of the final grade (20 pts).
 Belize Field Trip: Obviously, for the two week trip, attendance and enthusiastic
participation is mandatory.
 Field Journal: Student field journals must be maintained up-to-date and demonstrate
ability for keen observation. 11% of the final grade (80 pts).
 Research Paper or Project: The research paper or project is intended to acquaint the
student with a tropical ecology topic. The oral presentation is intended to teach you the
importance of sharing your work with other biologists. See rubric for grade criteria.
13% of the final grade (100 pts).
 Projects - Field Observations: These are intended to acquaint the student with field
observations in the tropics and teach the importance of making keen observations. 13%
of the final grade (100 pts).
 Class Participation: 11% of the final grade (80 pts).
EXAMS: The following exam schedule will be followed (52% of the final grade [400 pts]):
April 20th
200 pts (Exam I)
May 13th
200 pts (Final)
BELIZE FIELD TRIP: The field trip must be attended to get a grade in this course. Though
there are no official points associated directly with the trip, exceptional enthusiasm and
productivity can enhance the final grade, and inappropriate behavior can significantly lower it.
The trip will be composed of two sections: jungle and the sea.
 Jungle portion: We will routinely rise early and go to bed late. We will be up by 6:00 am
to have breakfast and have a morning session (trail walks, birding, hike, dugout trip, etc.).
Lunch will break the day, followed by a rest (good time to journal) and an afternoon
session. Another rest will accompany dinner, then back to the field for night walks and
activities. As we travel, there will be ample opportunity to visit with locals, see
interesting sites (zoo, Mayan sites, etc.), and visit markets and shops.
 Sea portion: We will travel by boat, so accommodations will be tight. Tents will be
available. We will rise early and snorkel/dive a couple of sites before lunch. We will
usually be on the island for lunch and a rest (kick back) period. An afternoon session
may be from the boat or along the beaches. After dinner, the evenings are usually free,
but an optional session may be offered.
PRE-BELIZE FIELD TRIP: There will be a field trip to Lake Thoreau Environmental Center
April 23rd. This is a "warm up" that will give you some experience with the type of field work we
will do daily in Belize. We will leave about 2 pm and return around 10 pm. Attendance is
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required. 3% of grade (20 pts).
FIELD JOURNAL: Keeping a daily field journal is mandatory and will represent a major
portion of the grade. Instructions for this activity will be given during class. Traditionally,
students get behind on this task. Every effort must be made to keep your journal within a day of
ongoing activities. The professor shall review them during the trip, with a final review on or just
before the flight home. 11% of the final grade (80 pts). Due: next to last day of trip.
PROJECTS:
 RESEARCH PAPER - You are required to select a topic pertaining to the tropical
experiences anticipated during the field portion of the course. A topic must be chosen
and approved by the professor. You shall write a research paper (approximately 10 pages
of text) on the approved theme, thus becoming the class “expert” on that topic. During
the course of the trip, the professor will turn to you for a few comments when
appropriate. Also during the trip, you shall interview as many knowledgeable people as
possible about your topic in order to get first-hand information that may not be available
through traditional research methods. Upon returning from the trip, you shall do any
further research deemed necessary to clarify your new information and include in the
paper the new information and information gained from the interviews. The final version
of the paper is due on or before June 30th following our return. You will also give a 10
minute talk about your research. We will decide as a group an appropriate time to meet
toward the end of June. Failure to complete this paper in a timely fashion will result in a
grade change (see “Deadlines” below). NOTE: YOU MUST USE CREDIBLE
SOURCES FOR YOUR PAPER AND YOU MUST RETURN THE FIRST DRAFT OF
THE PAPER WITH YOUR FINAL PAPER (IT MAY BE MAILED, OR SCANNED
AND EMAILED). FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THESE RULES WILL RESULT IN
YOUR ELECTING TO SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER YOUR POTENTIAL GRADE.
13% of the final grade (100 pts). Due: 1st ed.: May 4th ; 2nd ed.: June 30th.
Example topics: reef ecology, reef fishes, sharks, marine invertebrates, jaguars, cats
of Belize, West Indian manatees, reptiles and/or amphibians (or any species or
group), invertebrates, spiders, Peripatus, army ants, leafcutter ants (wee wee ants),
symbiotic relationships of tropical animals/plants, light gaps, aspects of forest
ecology, plant phenology, plant/insect associations, Shamanism, Maya beliefs (the
stranger the better), Maya folklore (traditions).
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OPTIONAL ALTERNATIVE TO RESEARCH PAPER – Students have the option of
doing a project instead of writing a research paper. If this option is chosen, it will be
graded with the same rigor as the research paper (quality, content, accuracy, resources
used, amount of work, etc.). In the past, students have written cookbooks, children
books, photo essays, collections of poems, a video of the trip, and the like. As with the
research paper, an original must be given to the professor. If you want to keep the
project, produce two of the same quality. The same points and deadlines apply and you
will give a 10 minute talk about your project.
FIELD OBSERVATIONS - These must be incorporated into your journal. All topics should be
cleared with the professor and will be reviewed by the professor during the trip. 13% of the final
grade (100 pts).
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JUNGLE ANIMAL OBSERVATIONS - You must write a detailed description of the
activities of an animal species (your choice, professor’s approval) during a minimum of
one hour observation time. Choose an obviously active individual. Note such things as
social interactions, preening, perching/hiding behaviors, confrontations, specialty
behaviors (e.g., number of dewlap extensions and head-bob cadence for an anole,
behavior of a nesting bird, frog calling sites and/or interactions, etc.). Do not watch a
sleeping animal!
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JUNGLE PLANT OBSERVATIONS - There are a myriad of plant-related projects that will
enhance the student’s understanding of tropical environments. You must choose one project to
pursue that relates to tropical plants and/or their communities (e.g., animal use of the
plant/community, growth patterns, habitat location, interactions with insects, color frequencies,
etc.). Do not watch a dead plant!
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REEF OBSERVATIONS - You must pursue a similar project in the water during the sea portion
of the trip. It may relate to an animal species, community, and/or habitat (e.g., fish interactions
under a pier or around a coral head, brittle star habitat and abundance, barracuda lurking
behavior, octopus activity, wrasse cleaning behavior, mimicry, etc.).
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BIRD WATCHING - We will constantly be surrounded by birds, and they will be a focus of
discussion. You are required to make a list of 50 species that you have come to recognize. In
your journal, you must list the species, tell where you first observed each, and give
characters you use to identify each. Write them down as you learn them!
BIRD CALLS - In class, you will see a video of several Piedmont High School (CA) students on the
David Letterman show performing their renditions of bird calls. Be sure to pay close attention to
bird calls during the trip, because you will be required to perform your favorite Belizean bird call
during skit time on the final evening. You may perform in groups up to 3 (peeps don't count; you
must perform the complex nature of a call). This will be factored into your CLASS
PARTICIPATION portion of your grade, so make sure you do an excellent job. You should
work on this from the beginning while you are able to hear your chosen bird with regularity!
You must be with us the final evening to earn the points.
CLASS PARTICIPATION – Each student is expected to participate in class discussion and be
enthusiastic and a non-slacker on the field portion of the course. The professor will qualitatively
assign points in this category. 11% of the grade (80 pts)
FINAL GRADE: The final grade will be based on the following point distribution:
A
90-100%
700-780 points
B
80- 89%
622-699 points
C
70- 79%
545-621 points
D
60- 69%
465-544 points
F
Below 60%
Below 465 points
NOTE: HELP ALONG THE WAY. If you have special needs (i.e., alternative testing, help with
writing, etc.), please speak with me at the start of the term so that proper arrangements can be
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made. Proper permission must be obtained in advance. If a student has a disability that qualifies
under the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and requires accommodations, he/she should
contact the Office for Disability Accommodations (ODA) for information on appropriate policies
and procedures. Disabilities covered by ADA may include learning, psychiatric, physical
disabilities, or chronic health disorders. Students can contact ODA if they are not certain
whether a medical condition/disability qualifies. Address:
The University of Southern
Mississippi
Office for Disability Accommodations 118 College Drive # 8586 Hattiesburg,
MS 39406-0001
Voice Telephone: (601) 266-5024 or (228) 214-3232
Fax: (601) 266-6035 Individuals with
hearing impairments can contact ODA using the Mississippi Relay Service at 1-800-582-2233
(TTY) or email Suzy Hebert at Suzanne.Hebert@usm.edu.
INTERRUPTION OF THE SEMESTER: In the event of an interruption to the semester's
routine (such as a hurricane, earthquake, Divine intervention), you must immediately access the
class site online. There will be an announcement on the opening page that gives you an
alternative (non-usm) email address. You must immediately email me at that address giving me
your alternative email address. We will continue instruction via email. As soon as usm.edu is
reestablished, we will resume use of usm.edu email addresses for all educational communication.
RULES & REGULATIONS: These will be strictly followed.
 Attendance: Regular class attendance is expected. Remember, we meet only once a
week for eight weeks! This is not a correspondence course, and students should realize
there is a high correlation between attendance and grades. Regular class attendance is
expected. More than two unexcused absences will result in an F in the course. Each
class absence over two from which you were excused will drop your class average by one
letter grade (see additional implications in the class attendance/participation rubric). Two
“lates” count as one absence. Arriving 30 minutes late to class counts as an absence. It is
the student’s responsibility to see the professor after class to have an absence changed to
a late.
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Exam make-up policy: Arrangements must be made prior to the original exam date. If
arrangements are not made before the original exam date, or the make-up is missed, the
grade will be zero (0).
Keeping exams: You may NEVER take your exam out of the classroom, nor make a
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copy. If you do, you receive a zero (0) on the exam and/or an F in the course.
Deadlines: You must meet the deadlines for assignments, otherwise you will lose 10%
for each 3 days (or any portion thereof) of tardiness.
Classroom decorum: You are expected to conduct yourself appropriately in class. It is
against accepted classroom etiquette to indulge in such activities as private conversations
(either verbal or non-verbal), cell phone interruptions, gum smacking, etc. Multiple
offenses will result in ejection from class. You are reminded that when I begin class, all
conversation is to cease immediately.
Computers in classroom: You may use a computer in class, but you MAY NOT get off
task (check your email, check your facebook, etc.).
Proper grammar is expected. ALL misspelled words are 1/2 point off each (unless the
word is misspelled in such a fashion that it changes its meaning or it is a scientific name,
in which case the point loss may be most drastic!).
Plagiarism: You are being educated to be a credible scientist. If you plagiarize others,
you lose the credibility that is so precious to our field. You are also guaranteed an F in
this course, and possible expulsion from the university. “When cheating is discovered,
the faculty member may give the student an F on the work involved or in the course. If
further disciplinary action is deemed appropriate, the student should be reported to the
Dean of Students. In addition to being a violation of academic honesty, cheating violates
the Code of Student Conduct and may be grounds for probation, suspension, and/or
expulsion. Students on disciplinary suspension may not enroll in any courses offered by
The University of Southern Mississippi.” (Taken from student handbook)
Facilities: Please use the facilities before coming to class. It is rude to get up and leave
in the middle of lecture.
CLASS LECTURE SCHEDULE: Weekly topics are followed by the reading assignments (the
numbers are chapters and/or page numbers), and names of lectures that are on the website (in
brackets).
March 23 – In class: Introduction; Overview of Belize; Tropical environments and their
significance; Maya Culture: history, village life, Tikal, other ruins, language, food [Syllabus,
Belize Geography, Structure of Tropical Ecosystems, People of Belize: The Maya & their
culture].
Homework: Belize Tour Slide Show, Tropical Health Issues, Checklist, Dive Training, Get
passport
March 30 - Tropical forests, mangroves, & refugia; Tropical plants & flowers & their anatomy,
toxins, etc. Forsyth 1,2,3,4,5,7,8,16 [Tropical Forests, Tropical plants].
April 6 – Where’s Waldo?; Pollination, crypsis, aposematic coloration, mimicry, Tropical fungi.
Forsyth, 6, 11. [Tropical Fungi]; Tropical terrestrial invertebrates: Insects, spiders, centipedes &
millipedes, Onycophorans. Forsyth 9,10,12,13. [Tropical insects, Tropical spiders & their kin,
Tropical centipedes & millipedes, Spiders, Onycophora – the velvet worms].
April 13 – continue above; review non-lecture materials that will be on the exam
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April 20 – Mid-term exam; Tropical marine invertebrates & corals. [Tropical Marine
invertebrates].
April 23 – Field trip to Lake Thoreau Environmental Center (2:00pm-10:00pm).
April 27 – Tropical Fish. [Tropical fish]; Tropical amphibians & reptiles. Forsyth – 14.
[Tropical caecilians & salamanders, Tropical frogs, Tropical turtles, Tropical lizards, Tropical
snakes, Tropical crocodilians, Terms for Movement (under Miscellaneous Relevant
Information)].
May 4 - Tropical birds; the art and practice of birding and other biological observations;
Piedmont High School bird callers. Forsyth – 12, 13 (part). [Tropical birds] Tropical mammals
and their behaviors and adaptations; night activities. Forsyth – 2:27-29, 15. [Tropical mammals].
Conservation of Tropical Forests; research papers due. Forsyth – 17.
May 13 – Final exam and final trip preparations
Topics covered during various classes: photography, snorkeling/diving, etc.
You must meet individually with the professor early in the semester to discuss the trip.
Finis!
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