TROPICAL HERPETOLOGY

Tropical Herpetology is a course that is designed to introduce students to the study of reptiles and amphibians, with emphasis on field biology and other topics that are relevant to the tropics. The species of Costa Rica will be examined in detail as representative of a tropical herpetofauna, but many of the principles discussed are broadly applicable. This is an advanced course that assumes some familiarity with vertebrate biology. It is intended to complement, and not replace, a course in general herpetology, which is not a prerequisite for the present course.

Syllabus

The following schedule is tentative and depends on the availability of lecture and lab space and equipment. Be prepared for last minute changes due to extenuating circumstances. Note: group oriented activities are clustered at beginning of class, individual project time at the end of the class.

Week 1.

  1. June 22. Arrive at Station.
    1. General assembly of students. Life in the tropics.
    2. Layout of La Suerte.
    3. Forest etiquette and safety.

  2. June 23. 0830: Setting up a field notebook.
    0900: Trail orientation.
    1300: Lecture - Physical parameters affecting the biota.
    1500: Hike to Primavera.
    1930: Lecture - Amphibians: thin skinned vertebrates.

  3. June 24. 0830: Trail orientation.
    1300: Lecture - Caecilians: life underground.
    1400: Assignment: literature review on a La Suerte herp.
    1930: Lecture - Forest structure in the tropics.

  4. June 25. 0830: Trail orientation.
    1300: Lecture - Tropical Salamanders: lungless in the tropics.
    1500: Laboratory: Identification and classification of Costa Rican Caecilians and Salamanders.
    1930: Costa Rican Amphibians: slide show.

  5. June 26. 0830: Basic behavioral observation techniques.
    1300: Lecture - Reproductive modes in anurans
    1400: Laboratory: Identification and classification of frogs.
    1930: Night Hike.

  6. June 27. 0830: Sampling techniques: the perils of pitfalls.
    1300: Lecture: Reptiles, a place in the sun.
    1500: Individual project proposal discussion.
    1930: Costa Rican Reptiles: slide show.

  7. June 28. 0830: Group field project: setup.
    1300: Literature Review presentation.
    1500: Lecture - Turtle biology.
    1930: Individual project proposal discussion.

    Week 2.

  8. June 29. 0830: Group field project: continued.
    1300: Literature review presentations.
    1500: Lecture: Crocodilians: predatory and reproductive behavior.
    1900: Finish individual project proposals.

  9. June 30. 0830: Group Field project: continued
    1400: Lizard biology.
    1500: Laboratory: Identification and classification of turtles and Crocodilians.
    1900: Submit individ. proj. proposals

  10. July 1. 0830: Group Field project: continued
    1400: Lecture: Snakes.
    1500: Laboratory: identification and classification of lizards.
    1930: Night hike.

  11. July 2. 0830: Group Field project: analysis.
    1300: Lecture - Thermoregulation and water relations.
    1430: Laboratory: identification and classification of snakes.

  12. July 3. 0830: Group field project: analysis.
    1500: Laboratory Practical exam: identification of amphibians and reptiles.

  13. July 4. 0830: Lecture - Reproductive strategies.
    1030: Group Field project: presentation(s).

    Week 3.

  14. - 16. July 5. - July 7. Field Trip.
    Lecture on Marine turtles
    Day 17-22, 0830 - 1200: Work on individual research projects every day.

  1. July 8. 1300: Lecture - Predation and defense
    1930: Video presentation on populations and predation in crocs.

  2. July 9. 1300: Lecture - Biogeography of Central American herps

  3. July 10. 1300: Lecture - Tropical Herp communities.

  4. July 11. 1300: Lecture exam.

Week 4.

  1. - 24. July 12 - July 15 Finish individual projects.

  2. July 16. Final day: Project presentations. Pack for home.

  3. July 17. Depart from La Suerte.

Required Textbook:

Pough, F. Harvey, R. M. Andrews, J. E. Cadle, M. L. Crump, A. H. Savitsky, and K. D. Wells. 1998. Herpetology. Prentice Hall. Upper Saddle River, NJ. 577 pp.

Suggested References:

Duellman, W. E. and L. Trueb. 1986. Biology of Amphibians. McGraw Hill, New York. 670 pp.

Heyer, W. R., M. A. Donnelly, R. W. McDiarmid, L. C. Hayek, and M. S. Foster, eds. 1994. Measuring and Monitoring Biological Diversity: Standard Methods for Amphibians. Smithsonian Institution Press. Washington. 364 pp.

Janzen, D. H. 1983. Costa Rican Natural History. University of Chicago Press, Chicago. 816 pp..

Ryan, M. J. 1985. The Tungara Frog. A Study in Sexual Selection and Communication. University of Chicago Press. Chicago.

Savage, J. M. and J. Villa. 1986. Herpetofauna of Costa Rica. SSAR 207 pp.

Zug, G. R. 1993. Herpetology, An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles. Academic Press, San Diego. 527 pp.

The Amphibians and Reptiles of Estacion Biologica La Suerte

Grading:
Lecture exam15%
Practical exam15%
Literature Review presentation10%
Class Project10%
Field notebook evaluation5%
Research Proposal10%
Research project presentation10%
Research project write-up25%
100%

For information on the Summer Herpetology Courses please contact:
Dr. Tom LaDuke
East Stroudsburg University,
200 Prospect Street
East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania 18301-2999
PH 717-422-2351
FAX 422-3724
e-mail tcladuke@aol.com

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