Module 28
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| Course Title : | Ecology of East African Ecosystems |
| Instructor(s) : | Dr. Jeremy Kerr Dr. Manisha Kulkarni and/or Dr. David Currie |
| Date(s) : | August 18 to August 30, 2010 (estimated dates). |
| Location : | Tanzania |
| Cost : | Approximately $5000 (Airfare, accommodations, travel within country, and food are included; costs for travel medicine, necessary visas, passport, health insurance, and personal gear are EXCLUDED). The exact cost will depend upon available airfares and the international monetary exchange rates at the time our booking is made. We have no control over such fluctuations and students must recognize that costs may vary. |
| Prerequisites : | Completion of second year university biology program, including introductory ecology course, or equivalent that we recognize is mandatory. Satisfactory completion of the risk assessment course we prepare. For safety reasons, students must agree to and abide by a code of conduct and formally recognize risks they would incur in Africa. There are no exceptions. Students must explain their interest in this course and detail the reasons they believe they should be admitted in a 1 PAGE, SINGLE-SPACED essay immediately after registration. |
| Description : | This course introduces major ecosystems in northern Tanzania, East Africa. Ecosystems in the area include different kinds of forests, savannahs, and higher elevation ecosystems on the slopes of extinct volcanoes. A main activity of the course will be a safari through the national parks and conservation areas of northern Tanzania (selected from Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Mkomazi, Tarangire, and Arusha). We will discuss how ecological interactions in this region are shaped by climate, wildlife migration, volcanic history, and human use of different habitats. We will be able to observe species’ behaviour and interactions in the field. The course may include consideration of major diseases in the region, including malaria and trypanosomiasis. Before the course, each participant will be asked to become the course expert on a particular aspect of tropical ecology and to prepare a short seminar on the subject, which will be presented to the group during evenings. Participants must be physically fit and be able to hike for extended periods in hot weather or at high elevations where breathing is more challenging. Participants MUST contact a travel physician prior to the start of the course regarding necessary vaccinations, preventative medications, allergies, asthma treatment, and any other health issues. Vaccinations can take two to three months in advance to provide protection: arrange to see a physician EARLY. All participants must have a passport that will be valid for six months past the end of the course. Citizens of most countries (including Canadians) require a visa before departure to visit Tanzania. Consult the website of the United Republic of Tanzania High Commission in Canada for details. This process can also take two months. |
| Enrollment : | 18 students |
| Evaluation : | Risk Assessment: 10%; Field book: 25%; Presentation in Africa: 25%; Final essay: 40% |
| Assignment(s) : | |
| Additional Information: | |