BIOL 041. Tropical Ecology

By almost any measure, the tropics house the highest levels of biodiversity on Earth- species richness, biological interaction complexity, and ecosystem variability all peak at tropical latitudes. Tropical habitats are the context of most of human evolution and are still favored as human living places. The tropics provide many resources and economic benefits but are also threatened by human activities. This is a course on the ecology of tropical habitats around the world. We will explore the physical and biological factors that result in the formation of tropical ecosystems/forests, learn about important biological interactions, and analyze human impacts on
these systems. Key evolutionary and ecological processes explored will include biogeography, paleohistory, ecological interactions, and patterns of human development in Asia, Africa and the Americas. We will devote special attention to evolution, ecology, and human presence in tropical island chains by focusing on the Galapagos Islands.

Our main goals will be: 1.) To gain an understanding of the environmental factors that contribute to the formation of tropical ecosystems and the ecological principles that govern their function. 2.) To obtain an experiential knowledge of published literature on tropical ecology through the use of books, journal articles, and other sources. 3.) To encourage the development of an understanding of the challenges faced by tropical forest managers in light of modern development pressures. 4.) To encourage the development of awareness of the increasing threat to global biodiversity due to ongoing destruction of the tropical forests and directional abiotic change.

This courses has an optional embedded field component. A subset of students can apply to travel to Ecuador for an immersive study of tropical ecology. The field component will meet after lectures end (May/June) and include travel to Amazonian lowland forest, Andean cloud forest, and the Galapagos Islands.

This course, taken in conjunction with the planned field studies trip to Ecuador in May-June of 2027, can count as a Group III Intermediate course towards a Biology degree or NSEP credit for other majors. This course is an NSE credit without the summer field studies trip.

Prerequisite: BIOL 001 and BIOL 002.
Natural sciences and engineering.
Lab (field course) optional for NSEP credit.
1 credit.
Spring 2027. Sean O’Donnell.
Catalog chapter: Biology
Department website: https://www.swarthmore.edu/biology

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