Biology of the Galápagos Islands

Catalog description

3 Skills Lab Hours Description This course is a directed exploration of the natural history and biodiversity of the Galápagos Islands. Students retrace the famous journey of Charles Darwin, and study the unique indigenous wildlife of the islands, as well as the evolutionary and biogeographic forces that shaped this extraordinary ecosystem. The core of the course consists of a nine-day visit to the Galápagos Islands, during which students explore a variety of terrestrial and marine habitats to observe animals and plants in the wild, as well as visiting conservation facilities and evolutionary research stations. Some preparatory coursework takes place before the trip itself. A separate travel fee is paid to the educational tour company organizing the logistics for the trip, and students must provide their own passports and travel insurance. This course is graded on a pass/fail basis.