Ometepe Biological Field School
Encyclopedia
The Ometepe Biological Field School, located on Ometepe
Island, Nicaragua
, is one of two field school operated by the Maderas rainforest conservancy
(the other being La Suerte Biological Field School
. It houses courses in primatology
, ecology
, botany
, and other courses related to the flora and fauna of Ometepe Island, Nicaragua.
The site is where the Maderas Rainforest Conservancy houses many of its conservation initiatives. These include: a veterinary field mission, a children's workshop for the local children of Ometepe to learn about conservation, a primate corridor project to combat deforestation
in the area, and an educational facility to build conservation professionals. This education facility is the field school which offers courses to university students from around the world.
The site is Isla de Ometepe. Ometepe is an island of 276 square kilometers lying in Lake Nicaragua
. It is the largest island in the world situated in a fresh water lake. Two forested volcanoes dominate the island. One called Maderas
raises 1,400 meters above the lake. The other, Concepción
reaches a height of nearly 1,700 meters. Ometepe is situated in southeastern Nicaragua and has a population of 30,000 people. The majority of the people who live on the island are of Indian ancestry.http://www.lasuerte.org/ometepe.html
Daily lectures cover a variety of subjects in primatology
. Students are divided into small groups to learn skills important to primate field research. Using the forests of Ometepe as classrooms, students learn how to map a trail system; how to conduct vegetation sampling and analysis; methods of assessing food availability; and observation techniques to study the social, feeding, and ranging behavior of primates. Independent Research Projects After completing the field methods section of the class, students begin work on their own projects. Faculty members work closely with students as they undertake this portion of the course. First, each student develops a research proposal detailing the subject to be investigated and the methods to be used. Each student presents his or her proposal to the class. Next, each student must collect data for his or her project; data analysis follows. Finally, students write a final paper on their project and make an oral presentation to the class. http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/idp/idp/entry/494
is also offered at the field school. This course offers an opportunity to study the unique elfin forest in Nicaragua. This forest is part of the famous cloud forest
s, which are habitats that are globally endangered. These mountain forests are inherently cool and rainy, representing unique ‘sky islands’ with a high proportion of endemic species, many not even described to science, yet. The course objectives are to document and quantitatively inventory, for the first time, the existing biodiversity of this habitat located at approximately 1000 meters in altitude. The Maderas
volcano offers a unique altitudinal gradient and mountain top to assess this tropical mountain wilderness, but also human impacts including climate change and invasive species. This course teaches expedition skills, and makes use of the nearby Ometepe field station as the base.http://www.maderasrfc.org/Maderas_Rainforest_Conservancy/Courses.html
is offered at this location.The course covers primarily the medicinal plants of the area, although plants from other areas such as the Amazon will also be discussed. The course will include: Identification of some of the commonly used medicinal plants, methods of preparation, including teas, decoctions, tinctures and salves, medical conditions and diseases for which the various plants are used, and the chemical structure and mode of action of selected medicinal plants.
It is also designed to give students hands-on experience in the search for medicinal plants in the Neotropics. http://www.maderasrfc.org/Maderas_Rainforest_Conservancy/Courses.html
Ometepe
Ometepe is an island formed by two volcanoes rising from Lake Nicaragua in the Republic of Nicaragua. Its name derives from the Nahuatl words ome and tepetl , meaning two mountains...
Island, Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
, is one of two field school operated by the Maderas rainforest conservancy
Maderas rainforest conservancy
The Maderas Rainforest Conservancy is a nonprofit organization which was established to promote the conservation, protection, and management of Mesoamerican forests and animal and plant biodiversity through education, reforestation, preservation, and by working with local communities, and national...
(the other being La Suerte Biological Field School
La Suerte Biological Field School
La Suerte Biological Field School, located in Northeastern Costa Rica, is one of two field schoosl operated by the Maderas rainforest conservancy . The site is situated in a tropical rainforest basin...
. It houses courses in primatology
Primatology
Primatology is the scientific study of primates. It is a diverse discipline and researchers can be found in academic departments of anatomy, anthropology, biology, medicine, psychology, veterinary sciences and zoology, as well as in animal sanctuaries, biomedical research facilities, museums and zoos...
, ecology
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
, botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
, and other courses related to the flora and fauna of Ometepe Island, Nicaragua.
The site is where the Maderas Rainforest Conservancy houses many of its conservation initiatives. These include: a veterinary field mission, a children's workshop for the local children of Ometepe to learn about conservation, a primate corridor project to combat deforestation
Deforestation
Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....
in the area, and an educational facility to build conservation professionals. This education facility is the field school which offers courses to university students from around the world.
The site is Isla de Ometepe. Ometepe is an island of 276 square kilometers lying in Lake Nicaragua
Lake Nicaragua
Lake Nicaragua or Cocibolca or Granada or is a vast freshwater lake in Nicaragua of tectonic origin. With an area of , it is the largest lake in Central America, the 19th largest lake in the world and the 9th largest in the Americas. It is slightly smaller than Lake Titicaca. With an elevation...
. It is the largest island in the world situated in a fresh water lake. Two forested volcanoes dominate the island. One called Maderas
Maderas
With a height of 1,394 m, Maderas is the smaller of the two volcanoes which make up the island of Ometepe, situated in Lake Nicaragua in Nicaragua, Central America. Unlike Concepción, the other volcano on the island, Maderas has not been active in historical times...
raises 1,400 meters above the lake. The other, Concepción
Concepción (volcano)
Concepción is one of two volcanoes that form the island of Ometepe, which is situated in Lake Nicaragua in Nicaragua, Central America....
reaches a height of nearly 1,700 meters. Ometepe is situated in southeastern Nicaragua and has a population of 30,000 people. The majority of the people who live on the island are of Indian ancestry.http://www.lasuerte.org/ometepe.html
Primate Field School
The conservancy runs a primate field school at Ometepe which has such courses as "Primate Behavior and Ecology", "Advanced Primate Behavior and Ecology", "Primate Conservation", and "Primate Communication". The courses center on the two native primate species of the area: white-faced capuchin monkeys (Cebus capucinus) and Mantled Black Howler Monkeys (Alouatta palliata).Daily lectures cover a variety of subjects in primatology
Primatology
Primatology is the scientific study of primates. It is a diverse discipline and researchers can be found in academic departments of anatomy, anthropology, biology, medicine, psychology, veterinary sciences and zoology, as well as in animal sanctuaries, biomedical research facilities, museums and zoos...
. Students are divided into small groups to learn skills important to primate field research. Using the forests of Ometepe as classrooms, students learn how to map a trail system; how to conduct vegetation sampling and analysis; methods of assessing food availability; and observation techniques to study the social, feeding, and ranging behavior of primates. Independent Research Projects After completing the field methods section of the class, students begin work on their own projects. Faculty members work closely with students as they undertake this portion of the course. First, each student develops a research proposal detailing the subject to be investigated and the methods to be used. Each student presents his or her proposal to the class. Next, each student must collect data for his or her project; data analysis follows. Finally, students write a final paper on their project and make an oral presentation to the class. http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/idp/idp/entry/494
Ecology Field School
EcologyEcology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
is also offered at the field school. This course offers an opportunity to study the unique elfin forest in Nicaragua. This forest is part of the famous cloud forest
Cloud forest
A cloud forest, also called a fog forest, is a generally tropical or subtropical evergreen montane moist forest characterized by a persistent, frequent or seasonal low-level cloud cover, usually at the canopy level. Cloud forests often exhibit an abundance of mosses covering the ground and...
s, which are habitats that are globally endangered. These mountain forests are inherently cool and rainy, representing unique ‘sky islands’ with a high proportion of endemic species, many not even described to science, yet. The course objectives are to document and quantitatively inventory, for the first time, the existing biodiversity of this habitat located at approximately 1000 meters in altitude. The Maderas
Maderas
With a height of 1,394 m, Maderas is the smaller of the two volcanoes which make up the island of Ometepe, situated in Lake Nicaragua in Nicaragua, Central America. Unlike Concepción, the other volcano on the island, Maderas has not been active in historical times...
volcano offers a unique altitudinal gradient and mountain top to assess this tropical mountain wilderness, but also human impacts including climate change and invasive species. This course teaches expedition skills, and makes use of the nearby Ometepe field station as the base.http://www.maderasrfc.org/Maderas_Rainforest_Conservancy/Courses.html
Botany Field School
Tropical EthnobotanyEthnobotany
Ethnobotany is the scientific study of the relationships that exist between people and plants....
is offered at this location.The course covers primarily the medicinal plants of the area, although plants from other areas such as the Amazon will also be discussed. The course will include: Identification of some of the commonly used medicinal plants, methods of preparation, including teas, decoctions, tinctures and salves, medical conditions and diseases for which the various plants are used, and the chemical structure and mode of action of selected medicinal plants.
It is also designed to give students hands-on experience in the search for medicinal plants in the Neotropics. http://www.maderasrfc.org/Maderas_Rainforest_Conservancy/Courses.html