From the tropical forest to the glacial landscapes of the south, this course provides a general view of the unique ecology, biogeography, bio-history and environmental problematic of Latin America. Thematic units are divided into the different main ecosystems, although special attention is devoted to tropical ecosystems.
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Curriculum: Fulfills Science Requirement for A and S, Business and Engineering Requirement.
From the tropical forest to the glacial landscapes of the south, this course provides a general view of the unique ecology, biogeography and bio-history of Latin America.
Thematic units are divided into the different main ecosystems, although special attention is devoted to tropical ecosystems.
As part of the ecology, fauna and flora of Latin America, the course also includes the human component, contrasting both the millenary human co-existence with nature and the modern society impact on the environment.
II. Course Objectives:
After successfully completing the course, you will be able to:
Have a direct experience and achieve a foundation on the mayor Latin American ecosystems and how they work.
Achieve a better understanding and experience the millenary relationship between traditional communities and their environment.
Identify the major geographic characteristics of Latin America and its surrounding oceans.
Describe the diversity and the distribution of life in the Latin America ecosystems.
Be acquainted with the main current socio-ecological problems of Latin America and some of its solutions.
Be able to think critically and with a broad interdisciplinary perspective on the socio-ecological problems of Latin America.
Achieve an interdisciplinary view of the mayor ecological issues of Latin American that allows you to relate them to its bio-history, sociology and politics.
III. Course Outline:
1. The Bio-history of Latin America.
2. Geography:
The geography of Latin America in maps./ Natural geographic regions./ Political regions./ Population density./ Hydrographic basins and rivers./ Mountains./ Climate: Isoterms, Rainfall, El niño./ Biogeographic regions of the world and the position of Latin America./ The Natural regions of Latin America./ Geologic and Biogeografic history./ Major ecosystems and geographic regions.
3. Basic concepts in Ecology and Latin America Natural regions:
World Biomes./ Latin America Biomes./ Ecological levels./ Relationships./ Ecosystems./ Niche./ Species and taxa./ Wildlife: key and flag species./ Succession./ Diversity and biodiversity./ Debate: Humans as part of nature.
4. Socio-Ecology:
Practical cases will be experienced and discussed.
5. People in nature:
Case study of a traditional society (Ex: Huaorani, Aymara, Terena). Latin America ethnic groups: an overview./ The relation with natives in Latin America./ Relations with nature./ The natural use of plants./ The Kayapó Indians soil improvement techniques./ The Shaman knowledge./ Debate: ¿Contact or non-contact policy?
6. The ecology of the rainforest:
World rainforest./ The Amazon./ The Atlantic rainforest./ The Chocó./ Biohistory of the Amazonia./ River types and dynamics./ Types of rainforest./ Climate./ Forest structure./ Nutrients./ Disturbance, gaps and succession./ Dangers in the rainforest./ Fauna./ Flora./ Conservation.
7. Savanna, shrublands and grasslands:
Introduction to the Neotropical Savannas./ Los Llanos./ El Cerrado./ The Pantanal./ El Chaco./ Pampa./ Historical occupation and uses./ People and land use in the Pantanal./ Pantanal as a dynamic system./ People and land use in the Cerrado./ The Chaco Ayoreos.
8. Neotropical Mountains.
The Andes: Paramo, Puna, Coordillera./ Southern Andean Steppes./ Tepuis of the Guianas./ Conservation issues./Sajama-Lauca NP./The Kallawaya and the relation of Andean people with nature.
9. Patagonia and Tierra de Fuego:
Biohistory of Patagonia and Tierra de Fuego./ Valdivian rainforests./ The Mapuche life with nature./ Exploitation of fax paper from Chile./ Southern mountains and the Subantartic./ Península Valdes: sea elephants and penguins./ The Patagonic Giant myth/ The Yámana People of Tierra de Fuego./ Patagonic estepes and sheep farms./ The southern glaciers.
10. Deserts and Xeric shrublands:
Atacama natural history./ Water and crops in the driest desert of the world./ Caatinga and Brejos./ Monte./ Espinal./ Baja California./ Origins, ecology and main PNS´s.
