WORDS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS’ STUDENTS TO INCOMING STUDENTS
           – Previous Year's Class Photos: 
           – Personal Gear and other Pre-course Planning Info: 

WHAT ARE CARIBBEAN COASTAL REEF AND TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSYEMS and WHY ARE THEY IMPORTANT?
           = Course Preparatory Reading Material 

•  SEE-U General Information (application information, etc.)
• Program Overview and Course Website

The course in the DR's endangered Caribbean Coastal Reef and Terrestrial Ecosystems

• “I really appreciate the experience I had here.  I was never the outdoors type but now I think I have a new found understanding and love for nature.” (Br 2003-I)

• “I have been most impressed with the schedule of the classes, how it starts off with basic info, and gets more detailed.” (Br 2004-I)

• “On this program you don’t only learn about ecology.  You also learn about a new country, about yourself, and you bond with your classmates and instructors in a way that is impossible to do in a formal classroom setting.  You gain a much wider perspective on the world and on your life, no matter where you are in your college career.  I would recommend this program to everybody.  It is a lot of hard work.  It isn’t an easy A or an easy six credits.  I worked harder over those five weeks than I have in any other classes I’ve taken at Columbia – and I’m a senior.  You put 24 hrs a day and 7 days a week into this course, but you get even more out of it.  Keep an open [mind] and know that you’re here to be an ecologist, not a tourist.” (Br 2003-II)

DR2005-1 students -- Ebano Verde Reserve 

• “This program is an amazing opportunity to learn about the local environment... You will see a lot of incredible, perspective things – both in ecological and cultural terms.  Living and learning with your group as a community is a huge part of the program – you will learn about yourself in working with lots of groups, both large and small.  Although a lot of time is spent in the field (if you want to spend time in the field), there is a lot of work with powerpoint, statistics, and research online with computers. ... The field trips we take are awesome.  I have learned so much about myself and the world through this program – it’s an experience I will never forget.”  (Br 2003-II)

• “Days are long but when you’re learning on the beach or in the forest, a 9-to-9 day seems ok. ... Take the chance to be part of SEE-U.  It will change the way you look at science, but more importantly it will change the way you look at the world.  Live and learn great things with great people in a great place!  This program beats Gen Chem, Calculus, Physics for Poets, or Dinosaurs hands down!” (Br 2004-I)

• “This course is not about ... culture.  I feel I realized this before coming, but some of my classmates seemed surprised to find this to be a science course.” (Br 2003-II)

• “Expect a science class, not a cultural anthropology course.” (Br 2003-II)

• “Field experiences are intense!  Come very prepared.” (Br 2003-I)

• “Tell students they should be in shape before coming here.” (Br 2003-I)

• “Try to learn [the language] (take one semester).  Remember freshman year dorms?  Be prepared to loose all privacy.   It will be the time of your life!” (Br 2004-I)

• “Cards, frisbees, or other games will be used and appreciated on afternoons off or late evenings.  A few power bars are a good thing to pack also.” (Br 2004-I)

• “Food – bring snackes/power bars for the munches.  Computer – bring it!!!” (Br 2004-I)

• “Something to read, a camera, a laptop, ... a [language] dictionary.” (Br 2003-II)

• “Bring an alarm clock.” (Br 2003-I)

For Pre-course Planning, refer to — Required Course Personal Gear:   SEE-U DR packing list   @ Mandatory Gear: Snorkel set, Compass, & Field notebook  (see link) Orientation Information for the Site:  SEE-U DR country orientation Punta Cana FAQ's Regional location map Travel Health Information:  CDC site for the Caribbean  <http://www.cdc.gov/travel/caribean.htm> General Information on Course Facilities: The Punta Cana Biodiversity Laboratory <http://www.puntacana.org/pca/facilities.htm> Traveling Abroad Safely:  "Responsible Study Abroad: Good Practices for Health and Safety" Section II — Responsibilities of Participants - <http://www.secussa.nafsa.org/safetyabroad/goodpractices2003.html> Univ of Colorado's "Essential Guide to Study Abroad" section on Living and Traveling Abroad Safely - [pdf, 600k]

• “Read and do research on ... the culture before you come, plan on staying a few weeks later.” (Br 2004-I)

• “Arrive here with much energy to work, respect another kind of culture, and don’t complain about stuff.” (Br 2004-I)

• “Start your field work on time.  Do travel before or after the program.  Bring your laptop, it will be come in handy.” (Br 2003-II)

• “Have fun above all else.” (Br 2003-II)

CONSERVATION SOLUTIONS

NATURAL HISTORY

OTHER RESOURCES

What are the Caribbean Coral Reefs and Terrestrial Ecosystems?  Why are they important?  Why are they at risk?

• Caribbean Islands Biodiversity Hotspot, Conservation International – <http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/Hotspots/caribbean/> Explore internal links

• What are Coral Reefs? <http://www.coris.noaa.gov/about/welcome.html> Explore internal links

• Coral Reef Bleaching – Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Australia: <http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/corp_site/info_services/science/bleaching/> Explore internal links

• Brief overview of DR biodiversity: <http://www.puntacana.org/pca/gateway.htm>

What is being done to understand and preserve these systems?

• Coral Reef Conservation Program, NOAA – <http://www.coralreef.noaa.gov/> Explore internal links

• Centres of Biodiversity - The Americas.  Smithsonian Institution –
• Home page: <http://www.nmnh.si.edu/botany/projects/cpd/about_project.htm>. 
• Caribbean Islands Regional Overview: <http://www.nmnh.si.edu/botany/projects/cpd/ma/ma-carib.htm>
• Caribbean Islands Centres for Plant Diversity and Endemism: <http://www.nmnh.si.edu/botany/projects/cpd/ma/cb-cpde.htm>.  DR centers = Cb5, 6, 7

• More links on:
• SEE-U course website: Punta Cana & DR ecology and conservation links

PCBL site resources [Note: PCBL web links broken - 4/27/06 tk] – Punta Cana Ecology:  <http://www.puntacana.org/pcbl/location.html>, <http://www.puntacana.org/fundacion/localeco.html> Unique Wildlife of Punta Cana: <http://www.puntacana.org/pcbl/wildlife.html> Map of Holdridge Life Zones for the DR

DR Life Zones -Image: PCBL

Marine

• Coral Reef Biology, NOAA – 
• <http://www.coris.noaa.gov/about/biology/biology.html>
• see also: <http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/col/projects/coral/Coralhome.html>

• Global NOAA Datasets –  
• Coral Reef data <http://www.coris.noaa.gov/>
• Oceanographic and Coastal data <http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/>

• “Color: A Fish's-Eye View / Coral Reef Color,” by Les Kaufman and Tim Laman.  National Geographic Magazine, May 2005 (pp. 86-109)
• Accompanying website: <http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0505/feature5/index.html>

• Punta Cana's Coastal Marine Project - coastal restoration project
• <http://www.puntacana.org/coastalmarine.htm>
• Report, Dec 2005 [pdf, 900k] 
• “Coral Reef Survey of Punta Cana,” Marilyn Brandt et al., 2003. 
• <http://www.puntacana.org/fundacion/ncore.htm>
• Report [pdf, 510k] 

• Ecological systems of the Caribbean – NatureServe: <http://www.natureserve.org/publications/lacEcologicalsystems.jsp>

• DR Vegetation –
• Caribbean Vegetation Mapping Project - The Nature Conservancy & EROS Data Center:
• Home site: <http://edcintl.cr.usgs.gov/tnc/index.html>
• DR map: <http://edcintl.cr.usgs.gov/tnc/products/atlas/dom_rep.jpg> 
• & corresponding Veg Classification descriptions

• Holdridge Life Zones for the DR – Map: <http://www.puntacana.org/pcbl/drmap.html>

• Ecolog compilation of Vegetation/Ecosystem  resources – (txt, 2k)

• Caribbean Plants –
• Harvard University Entomology's insect and plant photo & specimen database

• Neotropical Plants –
• Ericaceae (Blueberries) <http://www.nybg.org/bsci/res/lut2/>

Cycads <http://plantnet.rbgsyd.gov.au/PlantNet/cycad/>

• Caribbean Insects –
• Harvard University Entomology <http://insects.oeb.harvard.edu/Caribbean/Index.htm>, 
• including insect and plant photo & specimen database, guide to insect orders, on-line field guides

• Neotropical Scarab Beetles –
• “Generic Guide to New World Scarab Beetles” by B.C. Ratcliffe and M.L. Jameson (eds.) <http://www-museum.unl.edu/research/entomology/Guide/index4.htm>

• Unique Wildlife of Punta Cana: <http://www.puntacana.org/pcbl/wildlife.html>

• “Birds of Punta Cana,” Carriage House Press.  Tour photos from the book at –
• <http://www.puntacana.org/fundacion/birds.html>

• Neotropical Birds, Photo Collection (site by Arthur Grosset) –
• <http://www.arthurgrosset.com/sabirds/south%20american%20index.html>
• Other animals, global <http://www.arthurgrosset.com/mammals/mammals%20index.html>

• Amphibians –
• The Global Amphibian Assessment – An on-line comprehensive assessment of the conservation status of the world's 5,743 known species of frogs, toads, salamanders, and caecilians. IUCN, Conservation International, and NatureServe: <http://www.globalamphibians.org/> 

“Disappearing Jewels:  The Status of New World Amphibians” by B. Young, S. Stuart, J. Chanson, N. Cox, and T. Boucher. 2004. <http://www.natureserve.org/publications/disappearingjewels.jsp>

• InfoNatura - Birds and Mammals of Latin America – 
• Country-level status and distribution of threatened and endangered species: <http://www.natureserve.org/infonatura/>

• World Resources Institute “Biodiversity glossary”  • A-H • I-P  • Q-Z • 

Source: <http://pubs.wri.org/pubs_content_text.cfm?ContentID=487> WRI, 1992.
 
• Spanish language dictionary of biodiversity terms –
• “Diccionario de la Biodiversidad,” by Maarten Kappelle.  2004.  Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad (INBio) & Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional (AECI). INBio Press, Santo Domingo de Heredia, Costa Rica. <http://www.inbio.ac.cr/biodiccionario/> 

• Zoomable Map of the DR –
• <http://www.hispaniola.com/dominican_republic/info/maps_super.php> (tourism site)
• Layers include: climate, physiography, elevation, major parks

• National Parks of the DR –
• <http://www.drpure.com/index.php?topic=Park> (tourism site)

• Punta Cana regional shoreline map – <http://www.ncoremiami.org/documents/PCMap.pdf> 

 
• The Millenium Assessment –
• <http://www.maweb.org//en/Products.aspx>
• more accessible presentation at: <http://www.greenfacts.org/ecosystems/>
• Popular articles & editorials on global environmental change, by Michael Glantz –
• <http://www.fragilecologies.com/>

• March 2005 fires in the DR highlands –
• 18 Mar 2005: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=16850
• 21 Mar 2005: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=16856