ENTOM 3340 - [Tropical Field Entomology]

(CU-ITL)

Winter. Next offered 2016-2017 (offered alternate years). 3 credits.

Prerequisite: ENTOM 2120 or BIOEE 1780 or BIOEE 1610. Permission of instructor required. Offered in Costa Rica. The course takes place at the La Selva Field Station in Costa Rica during winter session.

B. N. Danforth.

This course will give students hands-on exposure to insect biodiversity, ecology, and behavior in a neotropical rainforest environment. Students will gain experience in insect sampling and survey methods, insect identification to the family level, insect natural history, experimental design and data collection in a field setting, basic statistics, interpretation and evaluation of scientific literature, and scientific writing. Course takes place over a two-week period for approximately 8 hr/day.

Outcome 1: Introduce students to insect field survey methods and insect biodiversity in a Neotropical rainforest environment.

Outcome 2: Develop skills in insect natural history observation.

Outcome 3: Formulate project questions and hypotheses; collect ecological and behavioral field data to analyze particular questions/hypotheses.

Outcome 4: Apply basic statistical methods as applied to field ecological and behavioral studies.

Outcome 5: Explain/present scientific results orally and in writing.

Outcome 6: Interpret, analyze, and discuss scientific literature on tropical insect biology and ecology.

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