Útila Island: Behavior, Natural History and Conservation

3 Credits.

Tropical ecosystems are immensely diverse in organisms and behaviors. Islands although frequently understudied, are conservation hotspots because they often have species with adaptations that are specific and separate from adjacent main land. This course will begin over intersession where we will travel as a group for 12 days to a neotropical island- Útila Island Honduras. There we will have lectures and conduct field research on two main taxa: iguanas and bats. Each taxon team will collect audio, video and/or still images that will then be analyzed during the spring semester. The ultimate goal of each team is to produce a natural history guide as well as a website for the public to learn about Utila’s biological diversity. For bats this will include providing the first ever documentation of bat species using acoustic recordings. For the Iguana team you will focus on the behavior and natural history of the Útila spiny-tailed iguana – an endemic critically endangered species that is the only iguana species that specializes on mangrove habitats. At the end of this course you will have gained first-hand experience in field research, ethology and scientific communication. The costs of the trip are included for all students with no fees required. Admission will be through instructor permission. Note this class can count towards a Behavioral Biology elective course or to satisfy?research?credit.