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Dr. Robert L. Curry
Dept. of Biology
Villanova University
Page last updated:
21 Oct 2009
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Lecture topics
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geological history of the Yucatán
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climate of the Yucatán
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ecological highlights of major ecosystems of the
Yucatán: mangroves, dry forest, deciduous forest, evergreen (rain) forest,
cenotes
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patterns of plant diversity in the region
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patterns of vertebrate diversity in the region
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overview of tropical invertebrate diversity and natural
history
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highlights of tropical insect biology: leaf-cutters,
army ants, termites
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highlights of tropical avian ecology
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selected topics in tropical mammal ecology: monkeys,
cats, bats, etc.
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critters to watch out for: dangerous animals in
tropical ecosystems
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'primer' of coral reef ecology
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environmental history of the ancient Maya: land use,
lifestyle, and ecological collapse
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natural resources of the Yucatán region: chiclé,
henequen, chocolate, and more
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ecology of swidden agriculture (shifting cultivation)
in the neotropics
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selected topics in conservation ecology in the Yucatán
Evaluation
mid-term exam based on lectures, class discussion, and
assigned readings
final exam based on lectures, class discussion, and
assigned readings
short essay summarizing a single research source about an
organism that occurs in the Yucatán
review essay on an ecological or evolutionary topic that
relates directly to organisms in the Yucatán peninsula (ideally with
references from studies done on the peninsula, or at least involving species
that occur on the peninsula but with the research done outside the region)
Texts (tentative; don't buy until list is finalized)
Required
Beletsky, L. D. 1999. Tropical Mexico: the ecotravelers'
wildlife guide. Academic Press, San Diego.
Kricher, J. C. 1997. A neotropical companion. Second
edition. Princeton University Press, Princeton.
Optional but recommended (for background)
Ricklefs, R. E. 2007. The economy of nature. Fifth
edition. W. H. Freeman, New York, New York, USA (required text for Bio 3255;
any one of several other introductory ecology texts would be equally good) -
Schlesinger, V. 2001. Animals and plants of the ancient
Maya: a guide. University of Texas Press, Austin.
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