The field site serves as a living laboratory where students experience the biology and behavior of New World monkeys in their native habitats. Daily field exercises cover aspects of primate ecology, biology, behavior, and the rainforest environment. Grade will be based on participation in field rotations. A field course exploring the interfaces between primate behavior and biology. The field site serves as a living laboratory where students experience the biology and behavior of New World monkeys in their native habitats.
Daily lectures cover aspects of primate ecology, biology, behavior, and the rainforest environment.
Prior to arrival on site each student searches the literature and develops a research proposal to be conducted on site during the last half of the course. The primary aim of this course is an understanding of present-day human variation with respect to ongoing evolution and adaptation. The orientation of the course is that of the disciplines of genetics, anatomy, and human physiology. Students should have a background in basic biology and chemistry. The major topics include human adaptation to high altitude, cold and heat, genetic adaptations to disease, and ongoing human evolution.