Amazon: Tropical Biodiversity
& Avian Ecology
| In Amazon: | July 1- 9, 2012 May need to add 1-2 days travel time |
| At Home or School: | September - early December 2012 (Web-based Learning Community) |
| Credits: | 7 graduate credits from Miami University; course can be applied to Global Field Program. |
| Course Cost: | $1290 (in-country costs and Miami tuition inclusive) + airfare to Puerta Maldonado, Peru |
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In this region of the Neotropics, reality has attained mythic proportions: More than 400 species of mammal, 1,300 bird species, 3,000 fish, 40,000 plants, and 2.5 million insect species. And still counting. The staggering diversity of the lush Amazon rainforest remains, in many ways, a mystery. Why is this area of South America the most diverse on the planet? How did such diversity—greater even than the species-rich rainforests of Africa and Asia—arise, and how is it maintained? How have the varied human groups that inhabit this region adapted to their unique environments? And perhaps the most relevant question for life on Earth, what is the future of the Amazon? Travel to the Peruvian Amazon rainforest and work with educators, researchers, and local communities to better understand the evolution and maintenance of biodiversity in this region, and to experience firsthand the effects of human interventions in the Amazon, from deforestation and urbanization to restoration efforts by local groups. Our field site includes a world-renown clay lick that provides nutrients to thousands of macaws, parrots, and other species, providing an exceptional opportunity to investigate methods of avian research, and the vital roles that birds play in forest systems. We will explore how we are all linked to this magnificent rainforest, sometimes called the “lungs of the planet,” and how to develop effective actions to engage public audiences in rainforest conservation. Prior to and following the field experience in the Amazon, students will complete coursework via Dragonfly Workshops Web-based learning community as they apply experiences to their home institutions. |
Course Themes
- Tropical rainforest ecology
- Avian ecology and conservation
- Traditional ecological knowledge
- Community-based environmental education
- Inquiry-driven learning
- Participatory education
A typical Earth Expeditions day in the Amazon is likely to include:
- Study at field conservation sites
- Lectures
- Student-led discussions of key course topics
- Engagement with local communities
- Open inquiries
- Journal writing
[Click on an image to open it in a new window]
Planned Sites in Amazon Rainforest
Center for Conservation Science and Education, Tambopata
The Center is situated on a scenic bend in the Tambopata River, a few miles from the town of Puerto Maldonado in southeastern Peru. Much of the area around the town has been transformed by development, but the bend still includes extensive native forest linked by green corridors along the Tambopata River to the unbroken virgin forest that stretches south for hundreds of miles.
The Center’s long-term goal is to document the area’s rich fauna and flora and to track changes in species composition and abundance as urban development encroaches in the southwestern Amazon region. As part of this goal, the Center conducts an extensive bird monitoring research project using mist nets (ground/canopy) to capture, color-band and release species, while Bal-chatri traps are used to capture raptors.
Tambopata Research Center
The Tambopata Research Center (TRC) is located in the Bahuaja Sonene National Park, a rainforest wilderness the size of Connecticut. The TRC is within walking distance of the world’s largest clay lick, where a dazzling array of macaws, parrots, and parakeets gathers to eat the clay, which helps to neutralize the effects of toxic fruits and seeds that the birds consume.
The TRC is home to the Tambopata Macaw Project, a long-term research project on the ecology and conservation of macaws and parrots. The project works to expand knowledge of macaw nesting behavior, increase understanding of the complexities of clay lick use, and evaluate tourism as a way to protect macaws and their habitat.
(Course locations are subject to change.)
Web-based Learning Community
Before departing for the Amazon, students will join instructors and classmates in Project Dragonfly’s collaborative Web community to complete pre-trip assignments in preparation for the expedition. After returning to the United States, students will continue to work in their Web-based community from September through early December to develop projects initiated in the field, discuss assignments, and exchange ideas. All students should expect to spend two to three hours a week contributing to their learning community from their home or school computer. Navigating the Web platform is easy--it's designed for people with no prior computer experience. To learn more about this unique Web experience, visit dragonflyworkshops.org.
Cost: $1290 + Airfare + additional internal course flights/transportation
Tuition for 7 graduate credits and all basic expenses in-country are covered in the $1290 course costs, including:
- Meals (incidental snacks and drinks not included)
- Lodging
- Field station fees
- Field equipment (as needed)
- Ground transportation (van, boat, train, etc., as needed)
- Park entrance and guide fees
Course costs do not cover personal expenses, such as gifts, or some ancillary costs, such as passport fees and course texts.
*NOTE: The Amazon course carries a required extra charge of $300-600 to cover additional internal course flights/transportation.
Financial Support
Because of support from Miami University and the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, the course costs listed above are a fraction of actual program costs. Earth Expeditions recommends that accepted applicants to the program check with their school district or employer to see if professional development funds are available to further offset costs.
Click here for Grant Funding Tips.
Tuition costs:
Non-Miami University Participants
To support involvement by a broad range of individuals, Miami University currently offers a reduced tuition rate (included in the price above) for all Earth Expedition participants who are not full-time students at Miami University.
Miami University Students
Full-time Miami University undergraduate and graduate students pay tuition for five credit hours unless they have summer tuition waivers through a graduate assistantship or scholarship. Miami students receive an additional two credits when they complete the required Web-based follow-up
Airfare:
To estimate fares to the gateway city of Puerto Maldonado (Peru), applicants may wish to visit an online fare finder or call a travel agent. Bear in mind that airlines have seasonal fluctuations in fares.
More Information
For more information on the admissions process, physical requirements, and more, please visit Admissions and/or FAQs.