Entomology 496A/896A
Instructor: Dr. Brett Ratcliffe, Professor (Department of Entomology) and Curator of Insects (State Museum).
Texts:
- Primack, R. and R. Corlett. 2005. Tropical Rain Forests. An Ecological and Biogeographical Comparison. Blackwell Publishing, Malden, MA. 319 pp.
- Lambertini, M. 2000. A Naturalists Guide to the Tropics. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL. 312 pp.
Where: Nebraska Hall East 535.
When: TTh, 10:30-11:45, spring semester.
Call #: 8350 (undergrad), 8351 (grad), 3 credit hours.
Content: Topics to be explored include definitions of biodiversity and the tropics; evolution and maintenance of diversity in the tropics; diversity hypotheses (time/age of tropics), stability, productivity, resource partitioning, predation and mutualism, coevolution, interspecific competition, Rapoport’s Rule, spatial heterogeneity, Pleistocene refugia, disturbance-vicariance, paleogeography, biodiversity of tropical oceans and coastal habitats, deserts, savannas, dry forests, rainforests, cloud forests, and paramo (with emphasis on the physical parameters of each and the plants and animals associated with each); use and “development” of the preceding habitats; threats to tropical biodiversity; political and economic implications of biodiversity; threats to indigenous peoples in the tropics; the future of tropical biodiversity; and current events.
Classroom format will be roundtable discussions of readings assigned for each class period. A series of excellent videos that take the class TO the tropics will supplement classroom activities.
Prerequisites: Introductory course in biology, ecology, or entomology, sophomore standing, and/or permission.
Grading: Grades will be based on the following: attendance, daily oral participation in class discussions on assigned readings, and term papers.
Term Papers: Each term paper will consist of an analysis/discussion of the assigned topic. A minimum of 6 references cited will be included (may be print or electronic but at least 4 print references must be included). Specific format for references cited will be distributed before the first paper is assigned. Papers will be written in Times or New Century Schoolbook, 12 point font, double-spaced. Margins will be 1 inch top and bottom and ¾ inch on sides of paper. Length will be 10 (minimum) to 20 (maximum) written pages in length for undergraduates and 15 (minimum) to 25 pages (maximum) for graduate students. Illustrations, graphs, and charts may be included but do not count towards the page length criterion. In other words, I do not want a 10-page paper with 5 pages of illustrations. Grammar, syntax, and punctuation will be graded. In addition to longer term papers, graduate students will write one additional term paper.