Island biogeography is the study of the distribution and dynamics of species in island environments. Due to their isolation from more widespread continental species, islands are ideal places for unique species to evolve, but they are also places of concentrated extinction. The Hawaiian Islands are the most distant island archipelago from any continental land mass on the planet. As such it is a critical biological hotspot and more than half of all organisms are endemic to this island group. Natural and anthropogenic disturbances are common to island groups, all of which face extinctions of endemic flora and fauna, growing populations of invasive species, and increasing human resident and tourist populations. This course will place the students within the terrestrial and aquatics ecotomes of these oceanic islands to experience island biogeographic principles firsthand. Prerequisites: MBIO 3800.
MBIO 3801: Island Biogeography Field Course (1 credit)
Instructor: Dr. Amy Hirons
hirons@nova.edu | (954) 262-7972
If you choose to enroll in the course, please follow these directions:
May 21 Depart for Hilo International Airport
May 22 Travel to and hike Kilauea National Park
May 23 South Point to Papakolea - hike and snorkel
May 24 Punalu'u and Mahana B Honokaa and Waipio Valley / Kapoho tide pools
May 25 Kamilo Point - Garbage Patch
May 26 Kealakekua Bay snorkeling trip
May 27 Mauna Kea astronomical observatory
May 28 Depart Kona for Lihui Intl Airport, Travel to Na Pali coast
May 29 Hike Napali coast to Hanakapi'ai
May 30 Hanalei Valley - Okolehae, Waipo
May 31 Travel to Waimea Canyon, Hike Kokee rainforest
June 1 Napali-Niihau snorkel trip
June 2 Hike Waimea Canyon / snorkel
June 3 Visit Kahaloe - Kapaa, Depart Lihui Int'l Airport
June 4 Arrive Fort Lauderdale Airport
TOTAL COST OF TRIP COLLECTED BY NSU: $3,900
• Deposit of $1,950 due by Friday, January 19, 2018
• Final payment of $1,950 due by January 29, 2018
All payments are nonrefundable. However, if the trip is cancelled, all payments made to the university will be refunded.
Not Included:
• Tuition and NSU fees related to this course
• Travel insurance (required)
• Medical insurance (required)
• Incidentals
• Gratuities
Travel study trips often require strenuous activity that may be difficult for some students. In many destinations, special accommodations are not available. If you may require special accommodations to participate in a travel study trip, please speak with the respective faculty member to determine whether or not you should enroll in this class.