1 Syllabus
Introduction
This course investigates the fundamental issues addressed by scientists studying tropical rain forests, including what gave rise to their remarkable biodiversity, the drivers and consequences of deforestation, why people are fascinated by rain forests, cultural and ecological stereotypes about the tropics, and different approaches to forest conservation and sustainability. By the end of the course students will be able to:
- Recognize and describe stereotypes about rain forests & their residents
- Analyze rain forest tropes in art, literature, & popular culture
- Discuss & evaluate hypotheses for the origins and maintenance of tropical biodiversity
- Explain & compare the history and ecological influence of humans in rain forests
- Review contemporary threats to rain forests
- Analyze and visualize data on deforestation
- Review and contrast strategies for rain forest conservation & restoration
- Identify the presence of rain forests in their daily lives & set personal goals for advancing rain forest conservation
- Produce materials for communicating about tropical biology & the conservation of tropical rain forests to family and peers
When & Where
When: Tuesdays 11:45 AM-12:35 PM & Thursdays 11:45 AM-1:40 PM
Where: Larsen Hall 0310
Instructor & TA
Instructor: Dr. Emilio M. Bruna, embruna@ufl.edu Teaching Assistant: Ashra Kunwar, kunwarashra@ufl.edu
Credits & Prerequisites
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: None
Quest Designation: Quest 2
GenEd Designation: International
- A minimum grade of C is required for Quest and General Education credit.
- Courses intended to satisfy Quest and GenEd requirements cannot be taken S-U.
Majors, Minors, and Certificates
This course counts towards the graduation requirements of the following UF Majors, Minors, and Certificates: