Course Information and
Application Procedures
January 2013 Biology Trip to Ecuador
Biology 245:
Ecology of Ecuador
Instructors: Drs. Kirk Larsen and Molly McNicoll
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This trip is an introduction to the ecology, evolution, and natural history of the Amazon rainforest,
Andean cloud forest, and Galapagos Islands, and at the same time exposes students to some of the
customs and cultures of the Ecuadorian people. We will have review basic principles of evolution,
ecology and natural history as they pertain to both the rainforest (e.g. productivity, nutrient cycling,
succession, and coevolution) and Galapagos islands (e.g. natural selection, speciation, colonization,
and island biogeography).
On January 2 or 3, 2013 we will fly to Quito, the capital city of Ecuador, which will be our base for
rest, laundry, and recovery. During our 3 weeks in Ecuador, we will spend four days at Santa Lucia
near Mindo, hiking and viewing the unique montaine cloud forest habitat dominated by epiphytes,
bromeliads and orchids, along with abundant birds, insects, spiders, etc high in the Andes. This
location has one of the highest rates of endemism of any location on the planet.
We will also take a five day trip down to the lowland Amazon rainforest and stay at either the
Napo Wildlife Center or Tiputini Biodiversity Station on the edge of Yasuni National Park. Yasuni
National Park can be argued as the most biodiverse location on the planet. Early-morning,
afternoon, and night-time excursions are experienced (e.g. hiking, canoeing, canopy towers) and
students are exposed to a wide variety of jungle flora and fauna, including monkeys, strangler figs,
kapok trees, pirañha, cockroaches, spiders, and leaf-cutter ants.
At some point we will have a short trips of the Andes with stops at the equator, a shopping trip to
the indigenous market in Otavalo, and will visit the paramo, alpine grasslands near Volcan Antisana
or Volcan Cotapaxi, sites where endangered Andean condors have been observed.
We will also spend 7 or 8 days in the Galapagos, visiting different islands of this famous archipelago
while living 3 or 4 nights aboard the Galaven I and 3 or 4 nights at a hotel on the island of
Isabella. A typical day on the Galapagos involves both morning and afternoon excursions (both
hiking and snorkeling), and includes encounters with numerous endemic and native species of plants
and animals, such as land and marine iguanas, giant tortoises, Darwin’s finches, Sally lightfoot crabs,
sea lions, and blue-footed boobies.
Accommodations, most food, transportation, and English-speaking naturalist guides are provided.
Course activities include keeping detailed field notebooks and journals, discussions of readings, and
several exams including both theoretical and practical portions.
COURSE GOALS AND TOPICS COVERED:
 to compare and contrast the natural histories and ecology of the lowland Amazon rainforest,
montaine cloud forest, and Galapagos Islands
 to gain a deeper understanding of evolutionary processes (e.g. natural selection, speciation,
coevolution)
 to increase awareness of the importance of conserving habitats and maintaining species
diversity
 to increase your understanding of and appreciation for other peoples and their cultures
2
EXPECTED EXPENSES: Approximately $5,600**(depends on fuel prices)
Includes round-trip airfare to Ecuador, the rainforest, the Galapagos, cloud forest; all ground
and air transportation while in Ecuador; food & lodging in Quito; food & lodging on boats in the
Galapagos, rainforest and cloud forest excursions; all taxes and tips; passport photos;
cancellation and health/evacuation insurance.
Not Included: ground transportation to/from the US airport of departure (ORD or MSP),
textbooks, passport fees; vaccination fees; food during travel and meals “out” in Quito;
snorkeling equipment; spending money for souvenirs.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES:
Prerequisite: Biology 151 (Ecology Evolution, & Biodiversity). Enrollment will be limited to
18 Luther students.
Students participating in the class will be selected by the instructors based on an application
and interview process. Selection of course participants will involve an initial screening of
application materials, followed by interviews by Drs. Larsen and McNicoll with selected students
in April. Applicants will be notified by the Center for Global Learning of their
acceptance on May 7, 2012. Academic performance, previous participation in other study
abroad programs, personal character, a personal statement, and letter of recommendation are
all seriously considered.
Your complete application must be received by the Center for Global Learning (items 1-2 by the
study abroad application deadline of Wednesday, April 23, 2012) and Dr. Larsen (items 3-4 by
Friday April 25). Interviews of applicants will be conducted as soon as possible after your
application is complete.
1) A completed on-line 2013 study abroad application form (available online on
“StudioAbroad” on April 2, 2012) that must be completed by the April 23rd deadline.
2) A confidential on-line recommendation from your advisor or another faculty member who
knows you well. This will be requested on-line by “StudioAbroad” from your “recommendor”
after you’ve submitted the on-line application form.
3) a personal statement of why this trip is important to your educational experience at Luther
College and how this opportunity relates to your future career goals. What do you hope to
get out of this trip? What will you do with this experience? Be sure to include your name,
e-mail address, and phone number on this statement. Turn this in directly to Dr. Larsen.
4) an unofficial copy of your current transcript (a printout from my.luther.edu is fine). Turn
this in directly to Dr. Larsen.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dr. Kirk Larsen
Department of Biology, Luther College
Office: SHL 190D, 563-387-1558
E-mail: [email protected]
2013 Course Info and Application Procedures.DOC
Meeting Outline
•
•
•
•
•
•
Course objectives and requirements
Where and what we visit
2013 Tentative Itinerary
Expected Expenses of Trip
Application Process
Questions?
Course Objectives
 to compare and contrast the natural history and
ecology of the lowland Amazon rainforest, Andean
montaine cloud forest, and Galapagos Islands
 to gain a deeper understanding of evolutionary
processes (e.g. natural selection, speciation,
coevolution)
 to increase awareness of the importance of
conserving habitats and maintaining biodiversity
 to increase understanding of and appreciation for
other peoples and their cultures
Course Requirements
•
•
•
•
•
Oral Presentations “in the field”
Field Notebooks and Journals
Exams including organism IDs
photographs/images collection
course participation
Our Journey to the “Middle of the Earth”
MSP
. ORD
MIA
EQUATOR
UIO
Ecuador
Andes
Mountain
Range
Galapagos
(600 miles)
Coastal
Yasuni
National
Oriente Park
(Amazon Rainforest)
Quito, Ecuador
(~9,000 ft elev.)
Casa Foch
Andean Montaine Cloud
Forest (~6,500 ft elev.)
Tiputini
“Oriente”
(Amazon Rainforest)
Lowland Amazon
Rainforest (~750 ft elev.)
Galapagos
Galápagos Islands
Galápagos
2012
Yate Galaven I
Ecuadorian Culture
Jan 2012 Itinerary
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Travel to/Meet in Minneapolis (Jan 3)
Travel to Quito, Ecuador (Jan 4)
4 days in Andean Cloud Forest
1 night in Quito
5 days at Tiputini Biodiversity Station in Amazon
3 days Quito, Otavalo*, Papallacta, Volcan Antisana
8 days in the Galapagos
(3 nights on boat, 4 nights on land)
Travel back to United States from Quito (Jan 25)
Expected Trip Cost:
approximately $5,600
•
includes round-trip airfares to Ecuador,
rainforest, and Galapagos, all ground
transportation, food & lodging in Quito,
food & lodging on boat and islands,
rainforest and cloud forest, entrance
fees, exit taxes, tips, passport photos,
cancellation and health/evacuation
insurance.
Costs not included:
•
transportation to/from U.S. airport of departure
(ORD), textbooks, passport fees, vaccinations
(yellow fever vaccination is REQUIRED), food
during travel and meals “out”, snorkeling
equipment, film?, spending money for souvenirs
the “paramo” at Papallacta Pass, 13,400 ft elev
Application Procedures
Applicants interviewed once application received:
1 – on-line study abroad application form
completed between April 2 and April 23rd
2 – confidential on-line recommendation from advisor
or another faculty member who knows you well.
3 - personal statement to Dr. Larsen
4 – copy of current transcript to Dr. Larsen
• Notification of course participants by Center for
Global Learning on May 7