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Field Stations (field + stations)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Life Sciences	100%

Selected Abstracts

Putting the community back in community ecology and education: the role of field schools and private reserves in the ethical training of primatologists

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PRIMATOLOGY, Issue 9 2010
P.A. Garber
Abstract In 1993 and 1999, with the assistance of a Nicaraguan family, we founded La Suerte Biological Research Station in northeastern Costa Rica and Ometepe Biological Research Station in southern Nicaragua as a privately owned conservation-oriented business. Our goal was to develop a program of sustainable community ecology focused on education, research, and the conservation of primates and tropical forests. In order to accomplish this we developed field courses in which undergraduate and graduate students conduct scientific research, experience local cultures, and learn about conservation. Over 120 of these students have received doctoral degrees or are currently in graduate programs. Four doctoral dissertations, several MA theses, and some 20 scientific articles have been published based on research conducted at our field stations. In order to achieve our long-term goals of preserving the environment, we also needed to engage directly with local communities to address their needs and concerns. To this end, we developed a series of community-based initiatives related to health care, bilingual education, and conservation education using traditional and on-line teaching tools. In this article, we describe our efforts in Costa Rica and Nicaragua teaching conservation-oriented field courses and working with the local human communities. Building upon these experiences, we outline a set of ethical considerations and responsibilities for private reserves, conservation-oriented businesses, NGOs, and conservancies that help integrate members of the local community as stakeholders in conservation. Am. J. Primatol. 72:785,793, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Beyond Paradise,Meeting the Challenges in Tropical Biology in the 21st Century

BIOTROPICA, Issue 4 2004
Kamaljit S. Bawa
ABSTRACT Tropical ecosystems support a diversity of species and ecological processes that are unparalleled anywhere else on Earth. Despite their tremendous social and scientific importance, tropical ecosystems are rapidly disappearing. To help tropical ecosystems and the human communities dependent upon them better face the challenges of the 21st century, tropical biologists must provide critical knowledge in three areas: (1) the structure and functioning of tropical ecosystems; (2) the nature and magnitude of anthropogenic effects on tropical ecosystems; and (3) the socio-economic drivers of these anthropogenic effects. To develop effective strategies for conservation, restoration, and sustainable management of tropical ecosystems, scientific perspectives must be integrated with social necessities. Three principles for guiding tropical biological research are suggested: (1) broadening the set of concerns; (2) integration of biological knowledge with the social sciences and traditional knowledge; and (3) linking science to policy and action. Four broad recommendations are proposed for immediate action in tropical biology and conservation that are fundamental to all biological and social disciplines in the tropics: (1) assemble and disseminate information on life's diversity in the tropics; (2) enhance tropical field stations and build a worldwide network to link them with tropical field biologists at their field sites; (3) bring the field of tropical biology to the tropics by strengthening institutions in tropical countries through novel partnerships between tropical and temperate zone institutions and scientists; and (4) create concrete mechanisms to increase interactions between tropical biologists, social scientists, and policy makers. RESUMEN Los ecosistemas tropicales mantienen una diversidad de especies y procesos ecológicos como ningún otro en la tierra. A pesar de su gran importancia a nivel social y cientifico, los ecosistemas tropicales están desapareciendo rápidamente. Para ayudar a estos y a las comunidades humanas que dependen de ellos a encarar mejor los desafios del siglo 21, los biólogos tropicales deben proveer informacion critica en tres áreas: (1) la estructura y funcionamiento de los ecosistemas tropicales; (2) la naturaleza y magnitud de los efectos antropogénicos sobre los ecosistemas tropicales; y (3) las fuerzas socio-económicas de esos efectos antropogénicos. Para desarrollar estrategias efectivas para la conservación, restauración y manejo sostenible de los ecosistemas tropicales, las perspectivas cientificas deben ser integradas a las necesidades sociales. Tres principios para orientar la investigación en biologia tropical son sugeridos: (1) ampliación del grupo de interés; (2) integración del conocimiento boilógico con las ciencias sociales y el conocimiento traditional; y (3) enlazar la ciencia con las politicas y la acción. Para una acción inmediata en biologia tropical y la conservación, se proponen cuatro recomendaciones amplias que son fundamentales a todas la disciplinas boilógicas y sociales en los trópicos: (1) recopilar y diseminar información sobre diversidad boilógica en los trópicos; (2) mejorar las facilidades para la investigación en los trópicos (estaciones biológicas) y construir una red mundial que las una con los biólogos tropicales; (3) apoyar el campo de la biologia tropical fortaleciendo las instituciones de 10s paises tropicales a travts de la colaboraci6n con instituciones y cienrificos de zonas ternpladas; y (4) crear rnecanismos concretos para incrementar la interacci6n entre bi6logos rropicales, cientificos sociales y tomadores de decisiones. RESUMO Os ecossistemas tropicais abrigam uma diversidade de espécies e de processes ecológicos sem paralelo em qualquer outro lugar da Terra. Apesar de sua tremenda importa,ncia social e cientifica, os ecossistemas tropicais esta,o desaparecendo rapidamente. Para ajudar os ecossistemas tropicais e as populaço,es humanas que dependem deles a melhor enfrentar os desafios do século 21, os biólogos tropicais precisam gerar conhecimentos cruciais em tr,s áreas: (1) a estrutura e o funcionamento dos ecossistemas tropicais; (2) a natureza e a magnitude dos efeitos antrópicos sobre os ecossistemas tropicais; e (3) as diretrizes sócio-econo,micas destes efeitos antrópicos. Para se desenvolver estratégias efetivas para a conservação, restauracao e manejo sustentável dos ecossistemas tropicais, as perspectivas cientificas tem que ser integradas às necessidades sociais. Tr,s principios norteadores da pesquisa em biologia tropical são indicados: (1) ampliar o conjunto de interesses; (2) integrar o conhecimento boilógico com o conhecimento tradicional e as ci,ncias sociais; e (3) unir ci,ncia com politica e tomada de decisão. Quatro amplas recomendaço,es são propostas para açã imediata na biologia tropical e conservação e que são fundamentals para todas as disciplinas boilógicas e sociais nos trópicos: (1) organizar e disseminar informação sobre a diversidade boilógica nos trópicos; (2) consolidar as estaço,es de pesquisa de campo nos trópicos e construir uma rede mundial para ligar estaço,es e os biólogos tropicais atuando nelas; (3) levar o campo da biologia tropical para os trópicos pelo fortalecimento das instituiço,es nos paises tropicais e através de novas parecerias entre estes pafses e seus cientistas com os cientistas e as instituiço,es de paises da região temperada; e (4) criar mecanismos concretos para aumentar as interaço,es entre os biólogos tropicais, os cientistas sociais e os politicos tomadores de decisão. [source]

Beyond Paradise,Meeting the Challenges in Tropical Biology in the 21st Century

BIOTROPICA, Issue 3 2004
Kamaljit S. Bawa
ABSTRACT Tropical ecosystems support a diversity of species and ecological processes that are unparalleled anywhere else on Earth. Despite their tremendous social and scientific importance, tropical ecosystems are rapidly disappearing. To usher tropical ecosystems and the human communities dependent upon them through the environmental transformations of the 21st century, tropical biologists must provide critical knowledge in three areas: 1) the structure and function of tropical ecosystems; 2) the nature and magnitude of anthropogenic effects on tropical ecosystems; and 3) the socio-economic drivers of these anthropogenic effects. To develop effective strategies for conservation, restoration, and sustainable management of tropical ecosystems, scientific perspectives must be integrated with social necessities. A new set of principles built on a framework for pursuing relevant tropical biological research will facilitate interdisciplinary approaches, integrate biological knowledge with the social sciences, and link science with policy. We propose four broad recommendations for immediate action in tropical biology and conservation that are fundamental to all biological and social disciplines in the tropics: 1) assemble and disseminate information on life's diversity in the tropics; 2) enhance tropical field stations and build a worldwide network to link them with tropical field biologists at their field sites; 3) bring the field of tropical biology to the tropics by strengthening institutions in tropical countries through novel partnerships between tropical and temperate zone institutions and scientists; and 4) create concrete mechanisms to increase interactions between tropical biologists, social scientists, and policy makers. [source]

New Perspectives in Comparative Ecology of Neotropical Rain Forests: Reflections on the Past, Present, and Future

BIOTROPICA, Issue 1 2004
Jennifer S. Powers
ABSTRACT In an effort to understand variations in ecological patterns among lowland tropical rain forests, Alwyn Gentry and colleagues synthesized data sets from four of the premier Neotropical field stations,La Selva (Costa Rica), Barro Colorado Island (Panama), Cocha Cashu (Peru), and the Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragmentation Project (Brazil). To promote the kind of geographically comparative tropical ecology advocated in the 1990 Gentry book, the Organization for Tropical Studies and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute organized a course in 2001 that visited each of these field stations. Papers from some of the studies resulting from this course are highlighted in this special section. These studies are notable for the consistent methods applied across forests, and they underscore the acute need and bright future for comparative tropical ecology. Key site characteristics for each of the field stations are summarized here. RESUMEN En un esfuerzo de entender las variaciones en patrones ecológicos entre selvas tropicales de bajura, Alwyn Gentry y colegas sintetizaron bases de datos en las cuatro principales estaciones biológicos del Neotrópico: La Selva (Costa Rica), Barro Colorado Island (Panamá), Cocha Cashu (Perú), y el Proyecto de Dinámica Biológica de Fragmentación de Bosque (Brasil). Con el fin de promover el estudio ecologico tropical comparativa a nivel geográfico recomendada por Gentry en 1990 la Organización para Estudios Tropicales y el Smithsonian Tropical Research Institution organizaron un curso en el año 2001, el cual visitó cada una de éstas estaciones. Los artículos científicos de algunos de los estudios producto de este curso se presentan en esta sección especial. Estos estudios son notables debido a la consistencia en los metodología aplicada a través de los cuatro sitios. Asimismo, estos estudios denotan la necesidad y el potencial de Uevar a cabo mas investigación a nivel de ecología tropical comparativa. Caracteristicas importantes para cada una de las estaciones de campo son resumidos en esta sección. [source]