Tropical Plant Biology

at the National Tropical Botanical Gardens on Kauai, August 2008

Tropical Plant Biology

BIO 470/471 - A two-week, 4 Unit, Cal Poly course

 

This is a two-week long intensive course in tropical plant biology taught at the National Tropical Botanical Gardens on the Hawaiian island of Kauai.

Course Goals:

This course covers a wide variety of topics in tropical plant biology. It is designed to give students an introduction to tropical plant biology, ecology, ethnobotany, and conservation in a tropical setting.

 

Topics

Tropical Botany

Tropical Plant Ecology and Diversity

Hawaiian Ethnobotany and Plant Culture

Threatened and Endangered Species

Tropical Habitat Restoration

 

Field Trips

Waimea Canyon, Tunnels Beach Reef, Hanalei Poi Company, Limahuli Preserve, Na Pali Coast, and others

 

 

Course Instructors

Matt Ritter

Cal Poly Biology Department

Gaugau Tavana

NTBG Education Director

Brian Yamamoto

Kauai Community College

 

Students that complete the course will:

  • Have an introductory level understanding of tropical plant biology, including vegetative and reproductive form and function
  • Be able to identify the most common tropical plant families and recognize their relationships to temperate plant families
  • Be familiar with the history, geology, and climate of the Hawaiian archipelago
  • Have an understanding of the extent of the Hawaiian flora that is rare and/or endangered and be familiar with the efforts made toward conservation
  • Comprehend the basic principles of tropical ecosystems and the effects of light, water, soil, temperature and other organisms on plant growth
  • Be able to identify common and dominant plants, both native and non-native, in the Hawaiian ecosystem
  • Be familiar with different techniques of propagation and conservation of rare plants
  • Be able to recognize different vegetational zones and plant communities and the relationships between them
  • Have an appreciation for native Hawaiian culture and how it pertains to the uses of plants in ceremonies, medicine, and material use
  • Be able to keep a well-organized, accurate, and informative field notebook
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California Polytechnic State University
San Luis Obispo, Ca 93407 805.756.2775 mritter@calpoly.edu