Tropical Ecology: Australia

lecture schedule
	Bio 520 Lecture Schedule readings in: Lambertini, A Naturalist's Guide to the Tropics Berra, A Natural History of Australia (on reserve in Mack library)

	Date	Topic	Reading	Links
	01/21	Introduction to the course Defining the tropics	Lambertini: chapter 1	>> Tropics >> Seasons and solstices >> map of Australia >> map of North America
	01/28	Tropical climates, ecosystems, and soils	Lambertini: chapter 2 & 3	>> world climate map >> Australia's climate >> rain shadow >> sea breeze >> shifting cultivation
	02/04	Continental drift and biogeography	Lambertini: pp. 1-15 Berra: chapter 2	>> This Dynamic Earth >> Inside the Earth >> Tectonic plates >> Mid-oceanic ridge >> Plate boundaries >> Evidence >> Fossil evidence >> Mammals >> Mammal convergence >> Endemism
	02/11	Tropical plants baobab	Lambertini: pp. 33-41 Berra: chapter 4	>> the plant kingdom (ppt) >> common Australian plants >> Australian flora >> Acacias (wattles) >> Eucalypts >> Eucalyptus images >> Proteas >> Protea images >> Acacias >> Acacia images >> Cooktown orchid >> plant use by Aborigines >> Wetland plants of Queensland
	02/18	Rainforest structure and diversity	Lambertini: chapter 7	>> Defining tropical rainforest >> Rainforest plants >> Epiphytes >> Lianas >> Queensland rainforests
	02/25	Savannas and dry forests	Lambertini: chapter 9	>> Distribution >> Australian tropical savanna >> Savanna woodlands >> Savanna mammals >> Savanna birds >> Fire ecology >> Fire in Australian landscapes >> termite mound
	03/03	Mangroves and seagrass beds	Lambertini: chapter 6	>> Distribution >> characteristics >> Q&A about mangroves >> Queensland mangroves >> Seagrass
	03/10	Exam #1
	03/24	Optional movie: Rabbit-proof fence McKelvey theater, 6:30 – 8:00		>> Tale of the rabbit- proof fence
	03/31	Coral reefs	Lambertini: chapter 8 Berra: pp. 87-96	>> basic coral biology >> zooxanthellae >> zooxanthellae images
	04/07	The Great Barrier Reef		>> Great Barrier Reef >> Virtual Great Barrier Reef >> bleaching update
	04/17	Tropical animals	Lambertini: chapter 5	>> Patterns of species diversity >> Cape York bat diversity >> bat diversity
	04/21	Australian animals	Berra: pp. 125, 149, 187, 217-226 Lambertini: p. 14	>> Amphibians >> Reptiles >> Birds >> Mammals >> Mammal images and information >> Insects >> Spiders >> Other invertebrates
	04/28	Marine animals	Berra: pp. 96-111	>> Marine invertebrates >> Fish >> Sharks
	05/05	Threats to tropical biodiversity	Lambertini: chapter 11 Berra: pp. 251 - 256	>> Biodiversity Assessment - Australia >> Nine threatening processes >> Land clearing in Queensland >> Land clearing decimating Queensland wildlife >> Endangered wildlife >> Deforestation and coral reef damage >> Exotic weeds >> Marine biodiversity >> Feral animals >> Wild rabbits >> Brown trees snakes in Guam >> Salinity problem >> Australia 'drowning in salt' >> Climate change & biodiversity in Queensland >>climate threat to rainforests >> Farm run-off and the GBR >> Coral bleaching >> Climate change and coral bleaching >> GBR bleaching
	05/11	Reading Day
	05/12	Final exam 6:30 p.m.
	05/22	Commencement
	05/26 – 06/11	Travel to Australia
	06/30	All assigned material for Bio 521 is due
Westminster College, New Wilmington, PA, USA