Tropical Ecology

Course manual 2022/2023

Course content

During this module, students will explore concepts related to the patterns and processes that are responsible for shaping tropical ecosystems, with an emphasis on tropical rain forests. After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Explain tropical rainforest structure, functionality, and diversity, and mechanisms explaining the origin and maintenance of species diversity
• Comprehend carbon and nutrient cycling dynamics in tropical systems, and how these systems respond to global climate change and anthropogenic influences
• Synthesize ideas on the past, present, and future dynamics of tropical systems
• Compare and contrast conservation strategies in tropical forests
• Apply species distribution models to tropical species
• Analyze and evaluate the outputs of species distribution models
• Develop written and oral communication skills
• Translate science to the general public

Course Overview

The course consists of lectures, paper discussions, a species distribution modeling project, workshops (werkcolleges), a field excursion to the Hortus Botanicus in Amsterdam, a symposia of guest lectures, a written component and a science communication video.

Lectures and paper discussions will provide students a foundational understanding of tropical ecology, and will cover: i) tropical biogeography, ii) tropical forest structure and diversity, iii) trait-based ecology, iv) processes maintaining biodiversity, v) ecosystem dynamics, vi) carbon and nutrient cycling in tropical systems, vii) conservation strategies in tropical systems, and viii) the past, present, and future of tropical systems.

The series of R tutorials will teach students how to generate and interpret species distribution models under current climate conditions and future climate scenarios. This is a commonly used approach in ecology, biogoegraphy, and conservation, and can also be used with paleoecological and/or archaeological datasets. Students will use this tool to answer a research question regarding biotic interactions and how they may change under future climate scenarios in the tropics.

Communicating science to the public is an important skill and comes in a variety of forms. The group project for the course includes creating a science communication video on a topic related to tropical ecology and conservation.

The final exam will cover material from the lectures (and associated readings), paper discussions, and the symposium of guest lectures.

Study materials

Literature

Syllabus

Practical training material

Software

• R

• R Studio

Objectives

• Explain tropical rainforest structure, functionality, and diversity, and mechanisms explaining the origin and maintenance of species diversity
• Developing and answering research questions
• Quantifying changes in biodiversity and tropical environments through time
• Improve analytical and critical thinking skills
• Communicating science to a general audience

Teaching methods

• Lecture
• Laptop seminar
• Computer lab session/practical training
• Presentation/symposium
• Self-study
• Working independently on e.g. a project or thesis
• Fieldwork/excursion

The lecture and discussion series, R Tutorials, and Group Project work will contribute to a breadth of concepts regarding the tropical ecosystems, deepened by acquiring technical skills in R, discussion skills, and written skills. The creation of a video for public outreach of science also allows students to use their creativity, while also communicating science to the public.

Learning activities

Attendance

Programme's requirements concerning attendance (OER-B):

• Participation in fieldwork is compulsory and cannot be replaced by assignments or other courses.
• In case of practical sessions, the student is obliged to attend at least of 90% of the sessions and to prepare himself adequately, unless indicated otherwise in the course manual. In case the student attends less than 90%, the practical sessions should be redone entirely.
• In case of tutorials/seminars with assignments, the student is obliged to attend at least 7 out of 8 seminars and to prepare thoroughly for these meetings, unless indicated otherwise in the course manual. If the course has more than 8 seminars, the student can miss up to 1 extra meeting for every (part of) 8 tutorials/seminars. If the students attends less than the mandatory tutorials/seminars, the course cannot be completed.

Additional requirements for this course:

Obligatory attendance and submission dates can be found in bold on the Detailed Timetable in Canvas.

Assessment

Assessment diagram

Inspection of assessed work

The manner of inspection will be communicated via the digitial learning environment.

Assignments

Final exam

• Final exam

R Tutorials

• A series of R Tutorial and Quizzes to teach species distribution modeling skills and interpretation

Written assignment

• Individual written assignment

Paper discussion

• Three in total. See Datanose for date and time. 

Science communication video

• Group project

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Course structure

Timetable

The schedule for this course is published on DataNose.

Additional information

We vinden het belangrijk dat je je op de UvA en bij Future Planet Studies veilig voelt. Krijg je onverhoopt te maken met ongewenst gedrag of voel je je onveilig, dan kun je terecht bij verschillende personen. Je melding wordt altijd vertrouwelijk behandeld. Kijk op onze website voor meer informatie over waar en bij wie je terecht kunt.

It is important that everyone feels safe at the UvA and Future Planet Studies. We are committed to provide social safety and we offer various forms of support for people experiencing inappropriate or unsafe situations. Consult the UvA website or Future Planet Studies Canvas page for more information and contact info.

Last year's student feedback

In order to provide students some insight how we use the feedback of student evaluations to enhance the quality of education, we decided to include the table below in all course guides.

Contact information

Coordinator

• dr. C.N.H. McMichael

Staff

• Majoi de Novaes Nascimento PhD