Module 3

University of Western Ontario
Ontario Universities Program in Field Biology

Course Title :
Tropical Marine Environments
Instructor(s) : Dr. Graeme M. Taylor, Email: gtaylor8@uwo.ca
Department of Biology
University of Western Ontario        
London, Ontario, N6A 5B7           

Contact: Brenda Beretta: bberetta@uwo.ca,  fax 519-850-2343
Date(s) : Saturday, April 30 – Thursday, May 12, 2011 (2 weeks)
Location : Belize Marine Studies Field Camp at Lighthouse Reef Atoll, Belize
Cost :

The cost for 2011 will be approximately $2095. This covers all transportation
within Belize, park fees, room/board, local guides, field/basecamp and research equipment. Students are responsible for: return flight to Belize, personal travel, travel medical insurance, and one dinner and breakfast on the mainland.

You must first submit a non-refundable $250 deposit to your home university. The balance of $1845 is then due before March 2nd. You can pay by certified cheque or money order, payable to UWO Biology Field Course Program. Payments should be sent to: Brenda Beretta, North Campus  Building 301A, London, ON N6A 5B7.
Prerequisites : First Year Biology and 2nd year Ecology. You must be reasonably fit and comfortable around water. The ability to swim 12 lengths of a pool (25 m) non-stop is required. Medical travel insurance, trip cancellation insurance and a current tetanus inoculation are mandatory. A positive attitude towards adventure is important! Students must have a valid passport. Students with other than Canadian passports need to determine visa requirements into Belize; you can find out entry requirements here http://www.travelbelize.org/plan-your-visit/getting-here/entry-requirements-2.html
Enrollment : Maximum 24 students/ minimum 20 students (4 spots for University of Western Ontario, 20 spots for OUPFB)
Description :

This course is an introduction to tropical marine environments. We will immerse ourselves in the diversity of habitats at Belize's most spectacular atoll — Lighthouse Reef. We will be based on a remote 40 acre tropical island, 55 miles offshore of the Belize mainland, within the Half Moon Caye Marine Reserve. The atoll is an asymmetric rimmed platform, entirely surrounded by a fringing reef rising virtually to the surface. Inside this fringing reef is a lagoon speckled with hundreds of coral patches. The reef, including the spectacular wall where the atoll drops away into the depths, is highlighted for its density and diversity of both corals and fish. We will literally be surrounded by marine life. Much of our time will be spent exploring by kayak and snorkelling. We will learn to be field biologists, to document and to interpret what we observe, and to develop scientific questions from our observations. You will work in a team on a research project, and you will communicate your research ideas to the larger group.

Our endeavours will be facilitated by Island Expeditions who have over 20 years experience operatingfield camps in Belize. (www.islandexpeditions.com)
Evaluation :

Assignments: Field Journal & Field Project Report
Evaluation:

• Participation 20%
• Field Journal, data collection, and identification 40%
• Research project 40%


Policy on cancellation and refund: Your enrolment is confirmed by the
UWO receiving full payment by March 2nd.

Only money order or certified cheque will be accepted (no personal cheques). After March 2nd those students in arrears will be automatically replaced by paying participants. All cancellations must be received, in writing, by the 15th of March. After March 15th we retain your full payment. No exceptions are provided for the above procedures. UWO may need to cancel the course/trip due to unforeseen events, in which case you will receive a full refund.