The description: One hour of discussion per week with intensive spring break field study in a Caribbean country. Principles of ecological engineering for ecosystem restoration and pollution control. Field trips to engineered and natural ecosystems providing ecosystem services including: coastal mangrove, coral reefs, and agroforestry operations.

The course objectives include intensive practical field research in Southeastern Peru, focusing on topics relevant to local conservation NGOs within the context of tropical ecology and conservation biology in the Amazon Rainforest. Students will engage in the scientific process by identifying pertinent ecological questions, designing research proposals, collecting field data, analyzing qualitative and statistical data, and presenting their findings to stakeholders and the scientific community. To facilitate this, students will integrate course components into their research designs and conduct field exercises. Research topics will center on various wild monkey species, providing a comprehensive understanding of the intricate relationships between these primates, their ecosystems, and the impacts of environmental changes. Evaluating monkeys as indicators of ecosystem health adds context to their conservation efforts. By assessing their vulnerability to environmental threats, students can advocate for effective policies and practices that protect both the monkeys and their habitats. Human activities significantly challenge wildlife populations, making it essential to explore the effects of habitat degradation on their behavior and ecology. Understanding these impacts is vital for informing conservation strategies aimed at mitigating human influence. Developing interdisciplinary research skills is a core objective of this program. By integrating methodologies from behavioral ecology, ecological modeling, parasitology, and conservation biology, students will learn to address complex ecological questions holistically. This skill set is crucial for tackling the multifaceted challenges of wildlife conservation and ecosystem management.