gy IB 496 Syllabus
(1 credit hour)
Offered FA 2022 and every other FA semester thereafter
Welcome to IB 496, Tropical Forest Ecology. This course provides an introduction to the biodiversity of neotropical forest ecosystems. During the second half of the Fall semester we will review each week topics on the biogeographic history of tropical forests, the role of climate in their distribution, and theories on the origin and maintenance of their extraordinary species diversity. We will also introduce landmark studies conducted in the forests of Panama that we will visit during the winter break. Over a 12-day visit to the facilities of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) we will visit mangrove, lowland, premontane and cloud forest sites, explore the forest canopy from the gondola of a construction crane, travel by boat to Barro Colorado Island, and meet with local researchers and farmers. Your guide on this behind-the-scenes tour of tropical forests, Prof. James Dalling, is a Smithsonian Research Associate with 30 years of experience working in forests all across Panama.
Course Information
Instructors
Prof. James Dalling, Department of Plant Biology, 149 Morrill Hall, phone (217) 244-8914. Office hours by appointment (dalling@illinois.edu); Lab webpage: publish.illinois.edu/dalling/
Dr. Astrid Ferrer, Department of Plant Biology, 133 Morrill Hall, phone (217) 244-8914. Office hours by appointment (aferrer@illinois.edu)
Time and Location
TBD
Course format
There will be a one hour class period each week during the second half of the Fall semester. Class will consist of some introductory lecture, preparatory information for the winter break trip, and class discussions of reading materials. Reading materials, including primary literature, will be selected to provide background information on sites that will be visited in Panama. The field trip will consist of a 12-day stay in Panama during the winter break. The course will be based in Gamboa, in central Panama and will make day trips to lowland and mangrove forests on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of Panama. In the second half of the trip the course will drive to western Panama with extensive hiking in montane forest habitats including premontane and cloud forests and a working coffee farm. Evening lectures will be provided by the course instructors and Panama-based research scientists. Students will be divided into groups to do small comparative field projects at each site.
Prerequisite
Undergraduate enrollment only. No prerequisites is required, other than a willingness to learn more about tropical forests.
Major Student Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the course, you should:
1) Understand the role of climate and soils in generating the diversity of tropical ecosystems
2) Be familiar with the major hypotheses for how tropical forest diversity is maintained and the experimental approaches used to test them.
3) Be able to identify major groups of plant and animal taxa
4) Have experience in working collaboratively to carry out the process of scientific inquiry
Textbooks
Text 1 (recommended): J Kricher. 2011. Tropical Ecology, Princeton University Press. (https://www.amazon.com/Tropical-Ecology-John-Kricher/dp/0691115133)
Moodle
Moodle is our course management system and its access is limited to students and staff associated with the class. To learn more about Learn@Illinois Moodle Service or to contact a Teaching & Learning with Technology (ATLAS-TLT) consultant, send an email to atlastlt@illinois.edu. For access to course, use https://learn.illinois.edu/auth/shibboleth/gateway.php.
Course calendar
Detailed information on weekly class topics, lecture notes, lab instructions, assignments and due dates are available on the moodle page.
Academic Integrity
According to the Student Code, “It is the responsibility of each student to refrain from infractions of academic integrity, from conduct that may lead to suspicion of such infractions, and from conduct that aids others in such infractions.” Please know that it is the responsibility of instructors to uphold the academic integrity policy of the University, which can be found here: http://studentcode.illinois.edu/article1_part4_1-401.html
For reporting academic integrity infractions, this course will follow the procedures outlined in the Student Code using the FAIR system. Note also that sharing recorded material, including lectures, discussions or other activities is forbidden, Sharing or posting it online is also forbidden.
Course Attendance policy
Students are expected to attend all the Fall pre-trip classes in person. There will be a short quiz at the beginning of each class that covers material presented in the previous lecture or lab. Attendance is recorded during each class. Unexcused absence from class will result in the loss of the quiz grade from that class. Occasional absences from class must be discussed ahead of time if accommodations are sought.
Disability Accommodations
To ensure that disability-related concerns are properly addressed from the beginning, students with disabilities who require assistance to participate in this class are asked to see Dr. Dalling as soon as possible. If you have disability needs, schedule a confidential appointment at the start of the semester. If you are concerned that you have a disability that may impact your ability to participate in any aspect of the Panama trip please contact Dr. Dalling as soon as possible to see what accommodations are possible. Please don’t wait until the end of the semester to express your needs. To obtain disability-related academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids, students with disabilities must contact the Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES) as soon as possible. To contact DRES, you may visit 1207 S. Oak St., Champaign, call 333-4603, e-mail disability@illinois.edu or go to the DRES website. If you are concerned you have a disability-related condition that is impacting your academic progress, there are academic screening appointments available on campus that can help diagnosis a previously undiagnosed disability by visiting the DRES website and selecting “Sign-Up for an Academic Screening” at the bottom of the page.
Community of Care
If you come across a classmate whose behavior concerns you we encourage you to refer this behavior to the Student Assistance Center (217-333-0050 or http://odos.illinois.edu/community-of-care/referral/). Based on your report, the staff in the Student Assistance Center reaches out to students to make sure they have the support they need to be healthy and safe.
Further, we understand the impact that struggles with mental health can have on your experience at Illinois. Significant stress, strained relationships, anxiety, excessive worry, alcohol/drug problems, a loss of motivation, or problems with eating and/or sleeping can all interfere with optimal academic performance. We encourage all students to reach out to talk with someone, and we want to make sure you are aware that you can access mental health support at the Counseling Center (https://counselingcenter.illinois.edu/) or McKinley Health Center (https://mckinley.illinois.edu/). For mental health emergencies, you can call 911 or walk in to the Counseling Center, no appointment needed.
Emergency Response Plan
Emergencies can happen anywhere and at any time. It is important to take a minute to prepare for a situation in which our safety or even our lives could depend on our ability to react quickly. When we’re faced with almost any kind of emergency – like severe weather or if someone is trying to hurt you – we have three options: run, hide or fight. Please review these guidelines:
https://police.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/syllabus-attachment.pdf
Health and Safety in Panama
The campus website safetyabroad.illinois.edu provides many resources on pre-departure preparations for taking this course. Important topics from this site concerning safety, security, health and insurance will be reviewed in class. Our trip is hosted by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), which maintains its own Emergency Team and resources for in-country responses at https://striresearch.si.edu/ss/.
COVID-19 vaccination and boosters are highly recommended by the University and STRI. Current COVID-19 conditions in Panama can be monitored here. Additional vaccination recommendations for travel to Panama can be reviewed here. Prescription medication to prevent Malaria and vaccination against yellow fever are not currently recommended for the areas of Panama that we will visit.
Course permit
All field courses visiting Panama must complete a research permit issued by the Panamanian Ministry of the Environment. This will need to be completed by October 31st at the latest. In order for this permit to be processed you will need to provide Prof. Dalling with an apostillated copy of your passport. This can be done by mail at the Illinois Secretary of State’s office. The detailed instructions for doing this, either in person or by mail, are here. The cost is $2. Note: you will need a photocopy of your passport, which will need to be notarized. This can be done at the Urbana Free Library for $1.
Inclusivity Statement
We are committed to maintaining an encouraging, respectful, and harassment free environment – on campus and in Panama. We will discuss in class specific expectations for behavior while off-campus. Exclusionary, offensive or harmful speech or actions (such as racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, etc.) will not be tolerated and in some cases will be subject to University harassment procedures. Visitors to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute must also follow the expectations of the STRI Code of Conduct. We are all responsible for creating a positive and safe environment that allows all students equal respect and comfort. We expect each of you to help establish and maintain an environment where you and your peers can contribute without fear of ridicule or intolerant or offensive language.
Grading
Grades will be assessed based on performance on quizzes and participation in discussion during the Fall semester.
| Activity | Number | % of final grade |
| Lecture quizzes | 6 | 50% |
| Discussion participation | 6 | 50% |
Discussion preparations and readings
Literature for in-class discussions will be posted on the moodle page no less than one week before class.
Exam and drop dates
There is no exam. Drop date is October 21st.
Fall Class schedule
| Week | Activity | Topic |
| Oct 17 | Lec/Discuss | Course orientation: Health and safety, preparation for Panama |
| Oct 24 | Lec/Discuss | Tropical forests: Biogeography and Climate |
| Oct 31 | Lec/Discuss | Tropical forest structure |
| Nov 7 | Lec/Discuss | Tropical forest diversity |
| Nov 14 | Lec/Discuss | Maintenance of diversity |
| Nov 28 | Lec/Discuss | Biotic interactions in the tropics |
| Dec 5 | Lec/Discuss | Tropical forest conservation; final trip preparation reminders |