Tropical Ecology

This course aims to give the students a general understanding of tropical ecosystems, including the location and characteristics of tropical habitats, their climate and their biogeography. Throughout this course, students will learn the influence of climate in determining the distribution of organisms and the trophic structure of the ecosystems. Specific examples will include descriptions of the characteristics of tropical rain forests, mountains, deserts, grasslands, wetlands and mangroves, while highlighting the adaptations required by autochthonous organisms. By the end of this course, students will also gain a general knowledge of how tropical ecosystems affect human societies and how humans influence the structure and function of these ecosystems.