Introduction (Fall 2024)
Welcome to BIOL 343, the third course of the Barbados Field Study Semester, in which you will learn about biodiversity patterns and trends in the Caribbean.
I wish to thank our host country, Barbados and its people, as well as our invited speakers for welcoming and helping us discover their land, rich history, and culture.
General Information
³¢´Ç³¦²¹³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô:ÌýBellairs Research Institute, Holetown, BarbadosÌý
Dates: Oct. 7, 2024 - Oct. 18, 2024
- Course duration and format: BIOL 343 is intensive and runs over two and 1/2 weeks of lectures and case studies, seminars, or field trips, for a total of 48 contact hours.
- Restrictions: The course is open to students registered in the McGill Barbados Field Study Semester (MBFSS). Open to U2 and U3 students from all faculties with a minimum CGPA of 3.0.
- Course co-requisite(s): GEOG 340, ATOC 341, FSCI 444.
- Number of credits: 3 credits.
- Readings: There is no required textbook or course pack. Readings accompanying lectures, materials and readings used for case studies will be available through myCourses or in print.
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Instructors and Program Support
Course Coordinator & Instructor: Pr. Virginie Millien, virginie.millien [at] mcgill.ca
Program Assistant: Dylan Samson-McKenna, dylan.samson-mckenna [at] mail.mcgill.ca
Bellairs Research Institute Operations Manager: Kim King (front office of the BRI)
Office hours: Monday to Thursday 4:00 to 5:00, upon request and availability.
Course overview
In this course, you will learn how the study of island floras and faunas contributed significantly to our understanding of the mechanisms and patterns of evolution, and how environmental changes have impacted such evolution throughout Earth History. BIOL 343 also summarizes current knowledge on global biodiversity, including ongoing biodiversity change, introduces metrics used to quantify the ecological integrity of ecosystems, and illustrates the importance of tracking these metrics through time. Case studies from terrestrial and oceanic biotas in the Caribbean illustrate these concepts.
Learning Outcomes
Upon course completion, you will be able to:
• Discuss the general theory on the drivers of biodiversity change.
• Explain the patterns of biodiversity, both in time and space.
• Explain the specificity of biodiversity on islands.
• Examine the current state of biodiversity in the Caribbean
• Complete basic biodiversity assessments
• Summarize findings from the primary literature and government reports
• Interpret results from case studies specific to the Caribbean
• Collect relevant data
• Complete a field report
Instructional methods
BIOL 343 involves lectures and seminars supported by case studies, tutorials, group discussions, oral presentations, and field trips. Lectures: Traditional lectures will be given in class. Tutorials: Students (working in groups) will learn different tools and methods to measure and analyse biodiversity.
GroupDiscussions: Students are required to read one to three articles from the primary literature. They will then participate in a group discussion related to these readings. Seminars: Students will attend research seminars that will be followed by a question-and-answer session and discussion.
Field Trip: Students will be taken to field sites and write a reflection note or a report.
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Detailed Schedule
Monday 7 October
9:00 Field Trip: Barbados Museum of History - V. Millien
13:30 Lecture: Biodiversity and Climate Change - V. Millien
15:00 Field Data Sampling Preparation (Birding) - V. Millien
Tuesday 8 October
9:00 Field Trip: Harrison’s Point (Birding) - J. Moore
13:30 Lecture: Species Distribution, Ecological Niche - V. Millien
15:00 In class: Birding Data - V. Millien
Wednesday 9 October
9:00 Field Trip: Turner’s Hall Wood (Plants) - S. Carrington
13:30 Tutorial: Species Distribution Modeling - V. Millien
Thursday 10 October
9:00 Lecture: Island Biogeography - V. Millien
10:30 Tutorial: Caribbean Island Assemblages - V. Millien
13:00 In class: Time for writing reports
Friday 11 October
9:00 Field Trip: Welchman Hall Gully - D. Branker
13:30 Group Activity: Monkey Business - Introduction - V Millien
Monday 14 October
16:00 Group Activity: Monkey Business – Debate - V Millien
Tuesday 15 October
9:00 Field Trip: Folkestone Marine Reserve - C. Gykes
13:00 Seminar: Coral Reef Ecology & Conservation - H. Valles
Wednesday 16 October
9:00 Lecture: Measuring Diversity - V. Millien
10:30 Tutorial: Reef Fishes Diversity - V. Millien
13:00 Tutorial: Reef Fishes Diversity - V. Millien
15:00 Group Activity: Hypotheses and Sampling Design, Reef Ecology - V. Millien
Thursday 17 October
9:00 Tutorial: Benthos Cover and Fish Identification - R. Bourne
10:00 Field Trip: Site 1 - R. Bourne
13:00 Tutorial: Processing Data (Site 1) - R. Bourne
Friday 18 October
9:00 Field Trip: Site 2 - R. Bourne
13:30 Tutorial: Processing Data (Site 2) - R. Bourne
15:00 In class: Field Data Analyses = V. Millien/R. Bourne
About our Guest lecturers and Seminar speakers (in order of appearance):
Sean Carrington is an emeritus professor at the UWI Cave Hill. Julian Moore is an avid birder, active with BirdsCaribbean. Debra Branker is a nature specialist and the director of the Welchmann Hall Gully. Carlos Gykes is an officer of the Barbados Government at the National Conservation Commission and specialises in the management of protected areas, including the Folkestone Marine Park. Henri Valles is a senior lecturer in Ecology at UWI Cave Hill. Robert Bourne is a PhD student with H. Valles at UWI Cave Hill.
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Evaluation
- There is no final exam, and evaluations will be performed throughout the duration of the course.
- Our daily meetings comprise lectures, seminars, group discussions, working sessions on case studies, and field trips. Active participation is expected in all sessions for you to pass this course.
- Grading and assessment are broken down as described below.
- Due to the intensive nature of BIOL 343, there will be no make-up sessions for any of the activities detailed in the course schedule.
- Late assignments receive a 10% penalty per day.
Individual Reflection, Field Trip – due Oct. 11th midnight:
- Barbados Museum of History - 5%
- Turner’s Hall Woods - 5%
Reports – due Oct. 11th midnight (1-2) and Oct 18th midnight (3-4):
1. Species Distribution Modeling - 15%
2. Island Assemblages - 15%
3. Fish Diversity - 15%
4. Reef Ecology (corals and fishes) - 20%
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Group Activity: Bird Survey – in class Oct. 8th - 15%
Group Discussion: Monkey Debate – in class Oct. 11th - 10 %
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Policy Statements
EDI – The MBFSS strives to be an inclusive community, learning from the many perspectives that come from having differing backgrounds and beliefs. As a community, we aim to be respectful to all. We reject all forms of prejudice and discrimination, including but not limited to those based on age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, and sexual orientation. We are expected to commit to creating an environment that facilitates inquiry and self-expression, while also demonstrating diligence in understanding how others’ viewpoints may be different from their own. The University is committed to maintaining teaching and learning spaces that are respectful and inclusive for all. To this end, offensive, violent, or harmful language arising in course contexts may be cause for disciplinary action.
Academic Integrity – Ï㽶ÊÓƵ values academic integrity. Therefore, all students must understand the meaning and consequences of cheating, plagiarism and other academic offences under the Code of Student Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures (See McGill’s guide to academic honesty for more information).
Assessment – The purpose of the Policy on Assessment of Student Learning (PASL) is to provide a set of common principles to guide the assessment of students’ learning. Per PASL, assessment should be equitable and consistent, and promote effective learning experiences, a healthy learning environment, and academic integrity. Learn more on the For Students page of the PASL website.
Language of submission – In accord with Ï㽶ÊÓƵ’s Charter of Students’ Rights, students in this course have the right to submit in English or in French any written work that is to be graded.
Copyright – © Instructor-generated course materials (e.g., handouts, notes, summaries, exam questions) are protected by law and may not be copied or distributed in any form or in any medium without explicit permission of the instructor. Note that copyright infringements can be subject to follow-up by the University under the Code of Student Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures.
Extraordinary circumstances – In the event of extraordinary circumstances beyond the University’s control, and given the nature of intensive field courses, the content and/or evaluation scheme in this course is subject to change. However, these changes will be communicated to students in a timely manner.