African Ecology

Bio 39

Syllabus (updated 11.12.08), Lectures (updated 1.5.07), Research Projects, Links (updated 9.17.06), Academics (updated 12.11.06), Pictures, and Maps

NdinguDr. Perry.  Utitshala wahko.  Ngubani igama lahko?
Nifuna ukufunda ukuthetha isiXhosa kancinci?

    This course is taught in the country of South Africa every other winter term (2005, 2007,...) and is the companion course to Biology 50, Marine Biology taught in Florida and Belize. African Ecology demonstrates the fundamental principles of ecology within the context of the South African environment. Students will be exposed to a variety of habitats and vegetation types, such as thorn scrub, succulent thicket and coastal fynbos, one of the rarest vegetation types in the world.  In addition,students will have the opportunity to observe and study a diversity of African wildlife including the African megafauna: elephant, hippo, rhino, buffalo and lion.   Field demonstrations will complement topics covered in lectures. Further, students will gain hands on experience conducting field studies with both plants and animals. South African social and political history is critical to understanding the current state of the natural environment as well as the pressing conservation concerns that we will see.  "Mandela: The Authorized Biography" and "The Myth of Wild Africa" are required readings for the class.

African Ecology (4 credits) fulfills the ecology and botanical diversity requirement for all Biology BS majors and satisfies the Asian-African Studies requirement.