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A field course exploring Costa Rican rainforests - and neotropical dry forests - was the most inspiring two weeks of her life, said third-year biology student Katie Millette.
Millette was one of 12 UWindsor students who made the trek south, led by professors Daniel Mennill and Stéphanie Doucet. The course enables students to learn about the biology of tropical plants and animals first-hand, Dr. Mennill said, through guided field explorations and nightly lectures.
Among the highlights, he listed observations of three species of monkeys, two species of deadly snakes, and a troop of about 50 white-nosed coatis, tropical relatives of the raccoon.
During the second week of the course, the students conducted independent research projects based on their own field observations. Dr. Doucet praised the innovative lines of inquiry pursued by the students.
“Their projects ranged from studies of tropical spiders and ants, to studies of behaviour of tropical birds, to studies of the diversity of plant types in the tropical forest,” she said.
Fourth-year biology student Mackenzie Browning said she enjoyed the course's focus on direct field exploration of conservation efforts.
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UWindsor students explore the biology of Costa Rica
