BOTANY SERIES This course is co-sponsored by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. The lectures will be given at the PHS offices, 100 N. 20th Street (20th and Arch Streets), Philadelphia. LECTURES ARE HELD FROM 6:30 TO 7:45 PM
This course will provide an introduction to the diversity and ecological role of plants in tropical ecosystems. Topics will include characteristics of different types of tropical forests, adaptations of specific tropical plants, and interactions between tropical plants and animals. We will also discuss the implications of human exploitation of tropical rain forests and current conservation practices. There will be a website for this course where students can view the lecture presentations and gain access to other online materials. There will be two optional assignments for students who wish to receive a certificate. Recommended reading: There are numerous textbooks on tropical biology, and you can also find information on the web. You don't need to buy a textbook. Books will be on reserve at the PHS Library and you can also find resources at the public library. For those who want a book, the following books are available for a reasonable price online. An Introduction to Tropical Rain Forests. By Timothy Whitmore. 2nd Edition. Oxford University Press, 1998. (This book is somewhat technical. It gives an introduction to how research is done in the tropics and provides examples of tropical forests all over the world.) A Neotropical Companion. By John Kricher, William E. Davis, Mark J. Plotkin. Princeton University Press, 1999. (This book also describes experimental tropical research, but is targeted toward the person who is going to spend some quality time in Central and South America. This book is written in a more personal style and is a lot of fun to read.) PLEASE NOTE: The first class will meet on Tuesday, January 17. PHS is closed on Monday, January 16 in observance of Martin Luther King Day. Owing to space limitations, this course requires preregistration. Preregistration begins on Monday, November 28, 2011. You may register online here or call 215-763-6529 x23.
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