Professors:  Dr Larry Rockwood , Dr. Chris Parsons, and Dr. Rebecca Forkner. 
TA:  Jennifer Mickelberg, Guide:  Mario Morazon

George Mason University, Environmental Science and Public Policy

Tropical Ecosystems 543 is an introductory graduate course that explores the unique terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems found throughout tropical latitudes.  Topics include:

*  features of tropical climates
*  the roles of seasonality and effects of latitude
*  geography, soils, eco-regions
*  effects of altitude on productivity and biogeochemical cycles
*  enhanced diversity found in tropical ecosystems
*  mutualistic interactions involving plants, animals, fungi, and microbes



Although data from the Neo-tropics is emphasized, comparisons to the African and Asian tropics is introduced.  The course culminates with a discussion of conservation issues relevant to the tropics.  The laboratory portion of the course consists of 9-days of field exploration throughout Costa Rica, including visits to: 

*  a marine park on the Pacific:  Manuel Antonio National Park
*  a seasonally dry forest:  Palo Verde National Park
*  a cloud forest on the continental divide:  Monteverde National Park
*  an Atlantic tropical wet forest:  La Selva Research Station
*  and two volcanoes:  Arenal and Poas.

Palo Verde and La Selva are field research and teaching stations administered by the Organization for Tropical Studies, based in Costa Rica through Duke University.  La Selva consists of large tracks of natural wet forest as well as a medium sized river and other habitats.  Palo Verde has, in additional to a deciduous forest, a large wetland with high numbers of individuals and species of waterfowl among other avifauna.  At Palo Verde, a boat tour of the Rio Tempisque is provided in order to closely observe roosting sites of various bird species.



This site is maintained and designed by Ryan Valdez , Ph.D. student at GMU and research  fellow at the Smithsonian Institution's National Zoological Park.  Design images are courtesy of Brian Gratwicke, Ryan Valdez, Jennifer Mickelberg, and Mario Castellanos.  Photo albums are combined courtesy of field trip participants.  This journey took place in March, 2008.