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BOCAS DEL TORO BIOLOGICAL STATION

Location

Beach

The Bocas del Toro ("mouths of the bull") Biological Station is located on the north end of Isla Colón in an area known as Boca del Drago ("mouth of the dragon"). Isla Colón is the northern-most of five large islands and hundreds of smaller ones that form the Bocas del Toro Archipelago (Map 1). Set in Almirante Bay on the Caribbean side of western Panama, this collection of islands is sometimes referred to as the "Galapagos of Central America". This is because, after having been isolated for 10,000 years by geologic activity, each of the islands has evolved its own unique biota.

Bluff BeachIsla Colón. Named for Christopher Columbus who sailed into this region in 1502, Isla Colón is approximately 14 km long and 7 km wide. Isla Colón is composed primarily of limestone, and has a hilly topography supporting primary and secondary tropical rain forest. This island has a 5 km beach (Bluff Beach) on its east side, mangroves on its west side, and caves in the interior. Bluff Beach is one of the important sea turtle nesting grounds in the archipelago. Isla Colón has the highest human population in the archipelago, with most individuals living in the town of Bocas del Toro located on the far side of the island from our facility. The culture is primarily Afro-Caribbean but with important input from Latino, Chinese and the indigenous Ngöbe people as well. Spanish is the "official" language but English is commonly spoken. Many Ngöbe speak only their native dialect. There are only two roads on the island, both originating in the town of Bocas. One road travels along the eastern margin of the island to Bluff Beach and the other cuts through the island's interior to Boca del Drago, where our facility is located (Map 2).

BocasTown of Bocas del Toro. This provincial seat of about 3000 is located 35 minutes by bus and 25 minutes by boat from the field station (Map 3). Bocas del Toro has many amenities including several hotels and pensions, restaurants, bakeries, vegetable markets, parks, a bank, ATM machines, hospital, dentists, police and fire departments, bars, pool halls, beaches, dive shops, boat and scooter rentals, and an airport providing daily service to Panama City. Bocas del Toro can be accessed by airplane, or from the mainland city of Almirante, by ferry (1 hr) or by water taxi (30 min). Bocas del Toro residents are very friendly and thousands of tourists visit here yearly.

BeachSouth of Isla Colón lies Isla Bastimentos ("place for provisioning") which is home to Bastimentos National Marine Park. This park covers an area of 13,226 ha and was primarily established to protect the abundant coral reefs in the region, but protects a swath of the island's interior as well. The most spectacular coral reefs occur near Zapatilla Cays, which lie to the south of Isla Bastimentos. Isla Bastimentos' geology is similar to Isla Colón's, with a hilly interior, mangroves on the west side and a 6 km beach (Playa Larga) on its east side. The remaining large islands are Isla Solarte, Isla Cristóbal, Isla Popa, and Isla Cayo Agua. Isla Popa has the largest Ngöbe population of any of the islands in the group. An additional interesting site is spectacular Bird Island, a protected nesting place for brown-headed boobies and red-billed tropicbirds, among other species.

Just northwest of Isla Colón, across the Bocas del Drago inlet, lies a region of Panama's mainland known as the Soropta Peninsula. This peninsula hosts a myriad of wildlife in its extensive primary forest, including howler, capuchin, spider and night monkeys, a striking array of reptiles and amphibians, and very high bird and plant diversity. Its geologic history has resulted in hilly topographical features consisting of swamps and ridges throughout the region. The Soropta facilities are available for class use if justified by enrollment. The peninsula is always available for visits by courses or for independent research.

BocasRegional Climate. Bocas del Toro lies 9 degrees above the equator in the wet tropical zone (Holdridge Life Zone scheme). The average annual rainfall and temperature are 4000 mm and 30°C (86°F) respectively. In general, the wet season (invierno) extends from May to December and dry season (vierno) from January to April. However, rain occurs at all times of the year, only less in the dry season.

Bocas del Toro Biological Field Station

The Bocas del Toro Biological Station consists of two facilities, one on the Isla Colón side of the Boca del Drago inlet (the Drago Facility), and the other is 5 min. across the inlet on the Soropta Peninsula (the Soropta Facility)(Maps 1 and 2). Both field facilities are located on beaches between tropical rain forest and coral reefs. Terrestrial habitats include primary and secondary forests, marshes, swamps, streams, pastures and low impact beaches. Marine habitats include mangrove forests, turtle grass beds, coral reefs, and estuaries. Additional habitats accessible from the station include lakes and ponds, Limestone caves, rocky inter-tidal zones and high impact beaches. Beach

Station Accommodations. The Drago facility includes several sleeping quarters which range from basic cement block structures to wood-framed cabinas. In total, there is room for 40 students in bunk beds, and 10 faculty in semi-private rooms. The Soropta facility can house 15 students and 3 faculty. There are multiple lecture areas available. Electricity is supplied by generator which runs in the evenings until midnight. Fresh water comes from a nearby spring and our drinking water is filtered. BocasOther amenities include a 25 passenger bus, a 16 passenger van, boats and motors. Some snorkeling and SCUBA equipment is also available.

Sanitary and Laundry Facilities. There is approximately 1 bathroom with shower and toilet for every 6 people. There is a commercial Laundromat in town that washes and dries for about $3.00/load. Most residents at the station prefer this but washing basins are provided for those who prefer to wash their clothes by hand. Laundry detergent, soap, toiletries, etc., can be obtained in the town of Bocas del Toro.

Dining and Meals. All meals are provided in an outside, dining area which seats 50. Meals are provided at 7:30 am, 12:00 noon, and 6:00 PM. Snacks can be purchased at the station store or in town. Juices are provided with meals; cokes and beer are extra. Bocas

Laboratory. Our laboratory contains a variety of analytical equipment including balances, microfuge, stereo and compound microscopes, dissecting equipment, dial calipers, assorted lab ware, aquaria and pumps, terreria, insect setting and preparation equipment, plant drying box, herbarium and insect cabinets, Berlese funnels, tool boxes, etc. A partial list of field equipment includes Pesola scales, sling psychometer, thermometers, 30m and 50m tape measures, spherical densiometers, dip nets, seines, surveyor's flags, flagging, insect nets, UV light, plant shears, plant presses, etc.Beach

 

 

 

Library. The main library contains 1000+ volumes and several hundred reprints covering a wide variety of topics. Computers, printers, photocopy machine, slide, overhead, and digital projectors, chart-preparation materials, overheads, etc. are also available. E-mail is available at the field station and in town. Bocas

Research Opportunities in the Region

There are many opportunities for long-term research in the region. The number of distinct habitats is very large and include terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems. Terrestrial habitats include florally-diverse tropical wet forest, riparian zones, Raphia/Symphonia swamps and pastures in varying degrees of openness (some are savanna-like). Except for jaguars and tapirs, which have been extirpated from the island, these forests support the same basic fauna as the mainland, including monkeys, sloths, cats, and rodents, and a very diverse bird, reptile, amphibian and insect fauna. Freshwater habitats include vernal pools, streams, marshes, swamps, and ponds which support a diverse fish fauna. Marine habitats include soft and hard coral reefs, turtle grass (Thalassia) beds, high and low impact beaches, rocky intertidals, mangrove forests and estuaries. Isla Colón also has limestone caves which support a number of bat species. Bocas

A unique feature of the archipelago is the opportunity to study random genetic effects on microgeographic variation among the larger islands. For example, the dart-poison frog, Dendrobates pumilio, is red and blue on the mainland, green with black spots on Isla Colón, red and white with black specks on Isla Bastimentos, and blue and black on Isla Popa. Similar genetic variation can be expected in other groups with similar dispersal capabilities. Beach

The availability of four species of sea turtles (leatherback, green, loggerhead and hawksbill) makes the Bocas del Toro region particularly well suited for their study. Most abundant are the leatherback and hawksbill which both nest and feed in the region.

There is also opportunity to study the indigenous cultures of Panama. The Ngöbe and Teríbe cultures are centered in the Bocas del Toro region and several islands support large populations. Other indigenous cultures in Panama include the Emberá of the Darién, and the very colorful Kuna of the San Blas Islands. The Kuna make the Panamanian mola, a reverse appliqué cloth tapestry that is becoming famous world wide.

Health and Safety

Is Panama Safe? As is always true when going abroad, certain precautions are necessary when traveling in Panama. The standard of living in Bocas del Toro is quite high (for a developing nation) with very little poverty. Unlike Panama City, you will not see beggars in the streets. However, you will need to be vigilant in Panama City when you arrive. Like any large international city, pickpockets and thieves present a threat. Never leave your bags unattended for even a moment.

Although Panama has had a tumultuous political history brought about by the removal of General Manuel Noriega by U.S. intervention, this small country now boasts a stable democracy that has continued through three successive elections. Many U.S. companies have operated in Panama since the turn of the century. Moreover, the Smithsonian Institution (STRI) has maintained several field stations in Panama for decades without interruption, including those on Barro Colorado Island in the canal zone and in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago. Finally, the Bocas del Toro region is so geographically removed from the political center in Panama City, that events there have little effect in Bocas.

BocasThe health and safety of participants (students, faculty, volunteers and staff) in our programs represent our primary concern, and we will take every precaution to insure that all potential for accidents is minimized. However, we will be working in an environment unfamiliar to many (especially students) and each individual must exercise caution and common sense. We expect each participant to cooperate and follow rules of safety at the biological station. These rules will be provided in detail during the first orientation lecture at the station.

Emergencies. Each participant is required to immediately report to faculty or staff any sickness or injury. Delays in doing so may prolong or complicate your recuperatory period, impair your ability to actively participate in the course, and limit you and other participants' opportunity to complete your research projects. The field station maintains an emergency first aid case. We also have direct communication with the well-equipped hospital in Bocas and an emergency evacuation vehicle is available at the field station at all times. If necessary, emergency flights to Panama City are possible from the airport in Bocas. There are poisonous snakes in the islands of the archipelago though they are seldom seen. Generally, snakes pose no significant threat to our work or safety because they tend to avoid areas often traveled by people such as our trail system. However, in case of a venomous snake bite, the Bocas hospital maintains supplies of polyvalent antivenin.

Vaccinations. Please consult your doctor or public health service regarding vaccinations and medicines for travel in Costa Rica and Panama. You and your doctor can make the most informed decisions based on your medical history. Malaria and dengue are rare in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago.

Physical Health. Because field work in the tropics can be physically demanding, it is essential that we are aware of your current physical condition and previous medical history. You will need to provide information regarding your current state of physical health, height, weight, allergies, and a list of all prescription medication being taken. Please answer all health related questions on the application. A certified medical examination from a physician is not required. Bocas

If you have any special allergies or conditions which might result in sudden illness (asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, potential for severe allergic reaction, etc.) you must inform the faculty during the first day of orientation. This will enable all necessary personnel to be familiar with your medical needs. In addition, if you require any special medication, you must bring an adequate supply. All prescription medication should be kept in their original bottles with the proper labels indicating dosage. Do not pack medication in your suitcase because checked luggage might be lost by the airlines. Keep all medication in your carry-on baggage while traveling.

Medical Insurance. ITEC provides no health or accident insurance. All participants are therefore required to have active medical insurance while enrolled in a program at the field station. Consult your insurance carrier regarding specific coverage. Many health insurance policies have very limited coverage outside the United States or Canada and student health insurance may not extend through the summer months. Most universities will allow students to continue their coverage over the summer at low cost. Beach

It is possible to purchase low-cost medical insurance (typically less than $50 per month) for students traveling overseas. One such company is called HTH Worldwide Insurance Services. Their policy provides protection for students and scholars in international educational activities and includes hospital, medication and medical evacuation benefits. For more information on this provider, call 1-800-394-2500 or write to: International Group Services, 12900 Federal Systems Park Drive, Suite 2-A, Fairfax, VA 22033. Also check with Council Travel , a nonprofit, student-based travel agency that provides health and accident insurance to members. Call 1-888-COUNCIL for more information. (Note: We provide this information for your benefit and ITEC is in no way affiliated with these organizations). You can also buy travel insurance from some airlines. Please bring your Medical Insurance Registration Card and claim forms with you to Panama.

Please note that your tuition payment cannot be used to pay for any medical care you may require while in Panama. All participants are responsible for paying medical costs whether or not you are covered by your insurance. You should carry about $50-$100, separate from your other funds, in case you require the services of a local clinic or doctor for minor illness or medication.

BocasA Final Note. In order to maintain our integrity as a conservation organization, we ask that all program participants conduct themselves in a manner that reflects our conservation ethic. Actions that are contrary to these ideals, such as eating sea turtles or their eggs, hunting wildlife, causing deforestation or littering, jeopardize our legitimacy locally and at home. Participants should also bear in mind that each of us represents not only ITEC, but our respective countries as well, and should conduct ourselves in a befitting manner.

ITEC Education Program

Field Courses. ITEC offers field courses at the Bocas del Toro Biological Station during the summer and over winter break. Summer Sessions are approximately four-weeks (26 days) in duration. Winter session is three-weeks (21 days) in duration. These courses are available to all college students, postbachs, graduate students or faculty. For liability reasons, participants in all ITEC courses and programs must be at least 18 years of age.

Course Size. Courses are limited to a maximum of 15 students each. Teaching Assistants (TAs) are provided to courses having more than nine students enrolled. Course professors have a Ph.D. in their area of study, and TAs are pursuing Masters or Ph.D. degrees minimally.

BocasStudent Statement and Letter. Along with the application, each student is required to submit: 1) a brief statement of interest (limit 1 typed page) that provides information on academic background and interests, purpose for taking the field course, and goals to be achieved by participating in the course, and, 2) a letter of recommendation from the student's academic advisor or sponsor for the course. This letter should be confidential and sent in a sealed envelope independently or with the student's application materials. These letters may be provided to course instructors for final evaluation.

Obtaining Credit. ITEC is a private institution and not directly affiliated with any university. Therefore, ITEC cannot issue academic credit directly. However, most universities have various mechanisms that allow students to obtain credit for field courses taken away from campus. These are often called "independent study" courses. If you are going to take the course for credit you must arrange this through your professor or academic advisor and university. We recommend you do this prior to coming to Panama. The ITEC course instructor or ITEC administrator will provide an official grade transcript to the students academic institution or advisor. The student will be responsible for providing direct evidence of participation such as lecture notes, proposals, reports, exams, etc. Normally, up to six units of credit are awarded for each course, three for the lecture portion and three for the field portion. Beach

Refund Policy. If you withdraw from your course within 30 days before the course starting date, all deposits and tuition will be completely refunded. If you withdraw from your course less than 30 days before the start of your course, only the portion of your tuition used for lodging, meals and local transportation ($500) will be refunded. This policy is necessary because enrollment numbers at 30 days prior to the start of each course are used to determine the hiring of faculty, teaching assistants, program directors and staff. Thus, we will have to expend your share of these tuition cost regardless of whether you attend. Students wishing to withdraw late may use their tuition towards another ITEC course in a subsequent session or year. If ITEC cancels a course, all deposits and tuition will be completely refunded, or students may transfer to different courses, subsequent session or year.

Course Cancellation Policy. ITEC reserves the right to cancel a course up to within 30 days of the course starting date due to insufficient enrollment (five students minimally). Courses may be canceled at any time as a result of accident or severe illness of the instructor (when no replacement can be found).

Cloud Forest Trips. To take advantage of other nearby tropical ecosystems, there will a field trip to Pacific-side tropical dry forest and to the cloud forests of Volcan Barú. At 3,475m (11,000 ft), this volcanic peak is the highest in Panama. This trip is three days and two nights in duration and includes a stay in the town of Boquete, and excursions to hot springs and to pre-Columbian petroglyphs. Transportation and hotel costs are included in your tuition. Food costs for this 3-day trip are the responsibility of the student and average about $10 per day.

 

Schedule of Field Courses for 2009-2010

Session
Course Title
Instructor
Summer-A
May 15-Jun 9
Dr. Barry Sullender, Rice University
Prof. Joe Maher, Tree Climbers Coalition
 
Primate Ecology

Dr. Gary Aronsen,
Yale University

 

Tropical Rainforest Mycology

Dr. Clark L. Ovrebo
Univ. of Central Oklahoma
 

Dr. Steve Phillips
Coast Consulting, BC

 

Photography in the Environment

Prof. Douglas Mason
Lehigh University
Summer-B
Jun 15-Jul 10
Dr. Al Beulig
New College, Sarasota, Florida
. Dr. Teague O'Mara,
Arizona State Univ
.

Tropical Conservation Ecology

Dr. Kelly Keefe,
University of Florida
  Prof. Joe Maher
Tree Climbers Coalition
. Dr. Peter N. Lahanas,
Institute for Tropical Ecology and Conservation
 
Summer-C
Jul 15-Aug 9

Krista Fish, Univ. of Colorado

 

Dr. James Roper
U. Federal Paraná, Brasil

.. Dr. Nisao Ogata
Universidad Veracruzana
  Dr. Peter N. Lahanas,
Institute for Tropical Ecology and Conservation
 
  Prof. Joe Maher
Tree Climbers Coalition
  Dr. Robert Lovely
Madison Area Technical College
9 Jul - 31 Jul Dr. James Roper
U. Federal Paraná, Brasil
Winter 2009
Dec. 20 - Jan 9
Dr. Peter N. Lahanas,
Institute for Trop. Eco. and Conserv.

Prof. Joe Maher, Tree Climbers Coalition
  Tropical Ethnobotany Dr. Nathaniel Bletter,
City University of New York
..

Dr. Alain Houle
Peabody Museum, Harvard

.. Dr. Peter Nelson
Scripps Inst. of Oceanography

Course Tuition

4-Week Summer Sessions:
$1950
.
3-Week Winter Session:
$1650

* A lab fee required for these courses, See individual course descriptions for details.

Schedule of Sessions and Deadlines

Session Session Period Registration Deadline
Winter 2009 Dec. 20 - Jan 9 inclusive November 20, 2009
Summer A May 15-June 9 inclusive April 15, 2009
Summer B June 15-July 10 inclusive May 15, 2009
Summer C July 15-Aug. 9 inclusive June 15, 2009
Ecología y Consv. 9 July - 31 July inclusive June 5, 2009

Course tuition includes registration, room and board at the Bocas del Toro Biological Station, and local transportation. Tuition fee does not cover air fare or hotel costs to and from Bocas del Toro, Panama, emergency medical costs, soft drinks, beer, or incidental travel unrelated to courses.

Important: If you are applying for a field course, Please include a $100 registration fee/deposit when your application is submitted. Your application will not be processed until this deposit is received. The registration fee/deposit will be applied to your tuition and is refundable to within 30 days of the course starting date. All payments must be in U.S. Currency. Make checks payable to ITEC. Beach

Tuition must be received by registration deadlines. Please note that ITEC reserves the right to cancel a course if student enrollment is less than five at the date of the registration deadline.

Passports. You are required to have a valid passport to travel to Panama. Additionally, you will need to obtain a Panamanian tourist visa to enter Panama. If you fly directly to Panama you will receive a 30 day tourist visa from the airline. If your stay is longer than 30 days, you will need to apply for an extension on your visa. If you are traveling by bus from Costa Rica, you will need to either obtain a visa from the Panamanian Consulate in San Jose, Costa Rica, or buy a $10 tourist card on arriving.

If you do not have a passport or need to renew yours, contact your local passport office or post office for an application. Apply for your passport early as it may require up to several weeks to process.

Getting to the Bocas del Toro Biological Station

There are several ways to reach Bocas del Toro. You may either fly directly to Bocas del Toro from Panama City ($164 RT), or take a direct bus from Panama City ($54 RT). From Costa Rica it is possible to travel by bus from San Jose to Bocas ($32 RT). For seasoned Latin American travelers, traveling by bus from San Jose is the cheapest, but see cautions below. For newcomers, ITEC recommends that you fly directly to Panama City, and then to Bocas del Toro.

There are two national airlines providing regular service to Bocas del Toro, Aeroperlas and Mapiex. Both will accept reservations and credit card payment on the web.

Important Schedule your travel so that you arrive in the town of Bocas del Toro in the morning or afternoon on the first day of class. Plan to leave the day after the last day of class.
Session Session Period Arrive Bocas Depart Bocas
Summer A May 15-June 9 May 15, 2009 June 10, 2009
Summer B June 15-July 10 June 15, 2009 July 11, 2009
Summer C July 15-Aug. 9 July 15, 2009 Aug. 10, 2009
Ecologia July 10-31 July 10 Aug. 1
Winter December 20-January 9 December 20 January 10

BocasFlight from Panama City. This is the easiest and quickest way to get to Bocas, and ITEC recommends this route. Arrange your international flight to Panama City and then a national flight to Bocas del Toro. You will arrive at the Tocumen International Airport and then, to fly to Bocas, you will need to go to Albrook National Airport which is about 30 minutes to an hour from Tocumen. You will probably need to stay over night in Panama City: there are many moderately-priced hotels ($20-$40) near the Albrook National Airport. Most ITEC participants stay at the Hotel Marbella. Amenities at this hotel include AC, TV, pool, restaurant, and the receptionist speaks English.

Bus from Panama City. A direct bus from Panama City to Bocas del Toro, via Almirante has recently become available with the opening of a new road. The bus ride takes approximately 10 hours and the cost is $54 RT. From Almirante, you will need to take the water taxi to Bocas del Toro on Isla Colón ($3). Call ITEC for more information concerning this route.

Bus from San Jose, Costa Rica. Occasionally, the least expensive but most time-consuming way to get to the field station is to fly to San Jose, and then take the direct bus to Panama. The entire trip takes from 6-8 hours and there are several steps. You catch the 6:00 am bus to Sixaola at the Caribbean bus terminal in San Jose ($8, Warning: be very careful here, do not leave your things unattended even for a moment!). After passing Costa Rican immigration in Sixaola, you cross the bridge over the Sixaola River to Guabito, Panama. Go through immigration again here and catch a taxi to Almirante ($5/person) passing the town of Changuinola along the route. In Almirante, take a water taxi ($3) to Bocas del Toro. Important note: Panamanian banks will not exchange Costa Rican money (colones). On the first day of class, meet ITEC personnel at the Bocas del Toro airport.

Arrival in Bocas del Toro. Schedule your travel so that you arrive in the town of Bocas del Toro in the morning or afternoon on the first day of class. On the first day of each session, ITEC personnel will meet incoming students at the Bocas del Toro airport. If you plan to arrive early, there are several very inexpensive hotels and pensions in Bocas (typically, $5-$10 per night). If you need more information, write us for details. If you plan to arrive via water taxi on the first day of your session, go to the airport to meet ITEC personnel. Please do not plan to arrive at the station earlier than the first day of class. Plan to leave the day after the last day of class (check schedule above for session dates). Beach

Arrange all national (US, Canadian) and international flights through your travel agency. Shop around for the cheapest flight. You can often find inexpensive, special offer or bulk flights in the travel section of your local Sunday newspaper. Also, check with Council Travel (1-888-COUNCIL) or Student Travel Association (STA, 1-800-777-0112). Both are student-based travel agencies which have offices at major universities and can often find you the cheapest fare. STA also offers group rates and can help organize students for travel to Panama. Finally, make your reservations early and inform ITEC of your travel plans!

Customs. When entering Costa Rica or Panama and returning, you will pass through "Migración" (immigration) and "Aduana" (customs). You can expect to have your luggage searched. The possession of illegal drugs or other contraband will result in your arrest by the local authorities and immediate expulsion from the course. Remember, you are not in the States or Canada, and your country cannot help you if you break foreign laws. Penalties for drug possession in Latin American countries are severe. Costa Rica, for example, has a 10 yr. mandatory minimum sentence for the mere possession of marijuana.

North American Address:

ITEC, Inc.
1023 SW 2nd Ave.
Gainesville,FL 32601
Tel. (352) 367-9128
Fax: (352) 367-0610
E-mail:ITEC@itec-edu.org

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