PILOT PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The School for Field Studies pilot semester program Tropical Island Biodiversity and Conservation Studies in Bocas del Toro, Panama, provides students with an exciting opportunity to conduct research and explore the rural Caribbean and the isthmus of Panama.OVERVIEW
Panama is the great connector between two continents – a corridor that links the natural riches of Central America to South America. Few places on Earth can claim the density of species and ecosystem richness that this isthmus can. Among its reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, estuaries, and rivers, this region boasts a variety of reef/game fish, turtles, and dolphins, as well as more novel species such as manatee, monkeys, and caiman.
Our classroom in Panama is the archipelago of Bocas Del Toro, a place where forest and shore come together and present almost limitless opportunities to study the ecology and conservation of both the marine and terrestrial realms.
It is the dynamic interface between forested islands and life-filled waters that will drive our learning of fragile habitats, natural resource use, and indigenous ways of life based on deep relationships with the environment.STUDENT RESEARCH
Student research will focus on identifying the status of key island systems, both natural and human; interrelationships of these systems; and the pressure points that threaten the delicate balance of the island system.
In this first semester, students will focus on defining and examining the state of the islands’ species, habitats, and human communities through natural science and social science lenses. We will start the research program by identifying key indicators for the condition of the ecosystems and communities.
We will use a suite of field research methods to assess the conditions. These include the following, among others:
- Household questionnaires
- Key informant interviews
- Mapping natural habitat and social networks
- Biodiversity surveys on land and in the water
- Sampling populations of key species for demographics and structure
We should come out with an understanding of livelihood strategies of island residents, population structure of key species, and habitat arrangements and conditions.
The goal of the research program is for SFS students and faculty to describe the environmental and social conditions on the island, identify problems, and examine the responses by society aimed at mitigating pressures and restoring balance in the environment.POTENTIAL FIELD RESEARCH, LECTURES, AND EXERCISES
- Snorkeling for field research and species identification on pristine coral reefs
- Shallow water excursions to the delicate intertidal surf zones where giant starfish and spiny sea urchins abound
- Deep exploration of giant stands of old-growth rain forests; viewing giant orchids, colorful macaws, monkeys, and numerous arrow frogs
- Monitoring of beach erosion and palm stand loss due to rising sea levels
- Lecture from Panamanian and international researchers and government environmental officials
- Visits to massive banana plantations on the mainland to understand the impact of the commercial agricultural industry on the local economy and delicate coastal environment
- Excursions to distant islands to visit indigenous housing settlements and observe the livelihoods of traditional farmers, fishers, and forest gatherers
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Visits to eco-lodges and resort hotels to understand how development imparts pressures on fragile marine and terrestrial habitats and ecosystems
POTENTIAL DIRECTED RESEARCH TOPICS
- Status of key species, including sea turtles, dolphins, corals, lobsters, fin fish, and reef fish
- Condition of marine and coastal habitats: coral reef, seagrass, mangrove, and coastal wetlands
- Survey of livelihood strategies of residents: fisheries, ecotourism, agriculture, ranching, and forestry
- Chemical-physical dynamic at the terrestrial-marine interface: nutrient and energy flows, physical and chemical properties
- Habitat changes at the terrestrial-marine interface: receding beaches, mangroves, and siltation of reefs
- Perceptions of environment by local people and tourists
COMMUNITY FOCUS
Conservation, resource use, forest preservation, and marine species monitoring are extremely important to local farmers and fishers, resource managers, and concerned community groups. With the results of our research, we offer advice to local decision-makers and create links between our staff and the stakeholders involved in tropical island system conservation and management.
SFS students get involved in community volunteer projects and social activities such as:
- Participating in community service trips to help local conservation groups and communities, such as monitoring sea turtle nesting and baby sea turtle emergence.
- Participating in annual community fauna surveys to baseline biodiversity measures, such as taking migrating bird counts and observing dolphin abundance in archipelago waters.
- Meeting with indigenous leaders and elders of the Ngobe to learn more about their culture and their efforts to promote their role in land management and sustainable natural resource use.
- Hosting community lectures or demonstrations and participating in short home stays.
- Attending community festivals and sporting competitions, such as baseball, soccer, and rodeo
HOUSING
The SFS field station in Bocas del Toro for our Panama study abroad program will be a brand new facility built by our partner, the Institute for Tropical Ecology and Conservation (ITEC). Located on 130 acres of property owned for generations by a local Ngobe family, the station sits on a promontory of land adjacent to open fields and within sight of the Chiriquí Lagoon and dense off-shore mangrove stands. Within meters, thick inland tropical forest dominates the landscape, sheltering the site with verdant canopies where howler monkeys abound and toucans search incessantly for fruit. Student housing consists of rooms within a raised platform building that provides views of forest and shore. Freshwater showers are available. Other buildings consist of classrooms, a library, a laboratory, and a common room used for dining and events. A full-time cook is available for most meals; healthy traditional dishes will dominate the menu each day with fresh fish from local waters.
