[bioundgrd] Field Biology Course - Summer 2006 - Belize, Central America

[Rachel McPherson]

February 27, 2006

Dear Professors and Students:

Galen University, located in Belize, Central 
America, is pleased to announce our two week 
summer field course:  Introduction to Vertebrate 
Field Methods.

Galen University is pleased to offer a summer 
field course that we believe will be very 
interesting for students in your field.  We would 
appreciate it if you would circulate this 
information about the course to interested 
students.  If you have any questions about the 
course outline, the instructors or Galen 
University in general, please feel free to email 
our Provost, Dr. Nancy Adamson at: 
<mailto:vicepresident at galen.edu.bz>vicepresident at galen.edu.bz. 


This course covers the management of protected 
areas and species of conservation concern 
requires robust estimates of species diversity 
and abundance.  Inventorying and monitoring 
indicator species is often necessary to evaluate 
the effectiveness of management plans, whether 
for conservation or sustainable use.  This course 
will provide an introduction to field biology 
with a review of standard survey methods for 
terrestrial vertebrates in the neotropics.  The 
taxa included will be amphibians, reptiles, birds 
and mammals.  While many of the survey methods 
are observational based, i.e. walking transects, 
the course includes an introduction to capture 
methods (live traps, mist nets, harp traps and 
camera traps) for reptiles, birds and mammals. 
This course emphasizes the need for field 
biologists to accurately identify the taxa in 
question and how to use identification keys and 
field guides.  Additional emphasis will be placed 
on the need to record field observations and 
maintain a field journal.

The course will be offered from June 5 to June 19, 2006.

For full details on the course and costs, go to 
Galen University's website, 
<http://www.galen.edu.bz/>www.galen.edu.bz, and 
then to Summer School (top right corner of the 
home page).

I hope to welcome your students to Belize this 
summer.  It's the only English speaking country 
in Central America and has a vast natural 
heritage.  Visit ancient Mayan ruins, canoe with 
the iguanas and toucans, or snorkel along the 
second longest barrier reef system in the world.

Students can sign up now by emailing us at 
<mailto:admissions at galen.edu.bz>admissions at galen.edu.bz.

Sincerely,


Erin Ryan
Recruitment/Admissions Officer

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