Spring Semester 2024 - Credit Courses

Tropical Flora of Costa Rica

Prerequisites: instructor's consent.This course offers an introduction to the fundamental principles of tropical botany, ecology, ethnobotany, and conservation in a topical setting. Various habitats will be visited including montane cloud, alpine paramo, and lowland wet forests. Field orientation at each site will include the identification of significant plant species, and understanding of species interactions, and the ability to conceptualize various habitat types. Students will learn the major families and genera of tropical plants in a phylogenetic context. This course is designed to develop the field skills needed for taxonomic and floristic studies. Students should expect to participate in moderate daily hikes and an abundance of time learning outdoors.