Biology 440 - Field Biology of the Desert Southwest |
 May 12
- June 1, 2007San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico Instructor: Dr. Jim Platz 4 Credit Hours - Certified Writing Course InformationStudents spend three weeks during presession in the field in and around San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico, a small town located on the coast of the Sea of Cortez, 350 miles by divided highway, south of Tucson. San Carlos has all the normal amenities we have here in the states, but has not suffered urban impact and is therefore rich with native fauna.
BIO/EVS 440 is developed around the concept of desert adaptations. It is designed to provide outdoor learning opportunities for students interested in field biology. Week one will involve terrestrial thermal ecology studies of a native iguanid lizard, Holbrookia maculata. Students will learn to obtain and use data logger records to characterize the thermal environment and carry out focal observations. Each participant is provided a portable computer connected to a wireless networked printer to facilitate data analyses and presentation. Phase one culminates in a written paper followed by a bioinventory of vertebrate life forms in Nacapule Canyon.
Phase two involves aquatic biodiversity, primarily small reef fish and intertidal invertebrates. These activities will require each student to have snorkel, fins and mask, a lightweight wet suit and modest swimming abilities to explore shallow, shore bounded habitats. Digital imaging (both real time and still image) will be used to identify and inventory tropical fish along transects at more than one site. These surveys will contribute benchmark data for descriptive analysis and comparisons in future years. A day trip is planned to visit the sea lion colonies on Isla San Pedro and observe other sea life along the way. Additional Information: Course costs - Summer session tuition for a 4 hour course. A fee of $1380 is required to cover:
* Airfare is based on projected prices ($400 RT) obtained by campus travel agents and subject to possible reduction or increase. San Carlos is a small, well established component of the tourist industry and only requires that students have a birth certificate or passport to obtain a travel permit. An entry/exit fee of approximately $20 is required of all tourists. Enrollment requires satisfactory completion of Bio 212 and the consent of instructor. The class is limited to 5 students. A waiting list will be maintained after the class fills. Biology 440 qualifies as a Certified Writing course. Biology 440 students may, with the consent of instructor, elect to enroll for 1 hour credit of Bio 495 independent study based during the following fall or spring semester. INTERESTED STUDENTS SHOULD SET UP A TIME WITH DR. PLATZ AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN THE SPRING SEMESTER AND FILL OUT AN APPLICATION PRIOR TO ARRANGING FOR THE DEPOSIT. $400 reservation fee is required by February 22. The balance ($890) is due by April 12. Both checks should be made payable to Creighton Biology Department. Further Details: Dr. Platz 280-3822. |
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Summer 2007 |
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