ANTH/CRSS/ECOL/GEOG/HORT 4930/6930
"Agriculture and Ecology of Tropical America"

Updated on April 16, 2003

Spring 2003
Tuesday, Thursday, 3:30 - 4:45 pm
Rm 3203, Plant Sciences Building

Instructors: 

• Mark Rieger, Rm 1121 Plant Sciences, 542-0783, mrieger@uga.edu
• Wayne Parrott, Rm 4121 Plant Sciences, 542-0928, wparrott@uga.edu

Textbook: None, but relies on WebCT (found under CRSS 4930)

Course objective:

Familiarize students with the ecological and agricultural systems of tropical America, the way they interact with each other and with the region's socioeconomic system, and the challenges to achieve sustainable food production while preserving one of the planet's most biodiverse regions.

Grading:

• Attendance: 10%
• Discussion sessions:
• Oral participation:  15%
• Written assignments: 15%
• Quizzes (3 take-home):*  30%
• Term project:** 
• Outline & references:   5%
• Template on diskette: 5%
• Oral presentation: 10%
• Web page:  10%

  * Take-home quizzes will consist of one question per lecture topic covered. Answers should be no more than a well-constructed paragraph, and will be administered via WebCT.

  ** The term papers must be submitted via WebCT, and once posted, will be available to all students registered in the class.

NOTE 1: To use WebCT, all students MUST obtain an ARCHES account.  If you do not have one, please log on to http://www.uga.edu/myid/student-form.html.

Students who do not use ARCHES as their primary email account should forward their ARCHES email to the email account of their preference

NOTE 2: All students are responsible for the highest standards of honesty and integrity in every phase of their academic careers.  Barring group projects, all other work turned in for this class should be the original, independent, and unassisted work of each individual.  The penalties for academic dishonesty are severe, and ignorance is not an acceptable defense.  See http://www.uga.edu/ovpi/academic_honesty/culture_honesty.htm

Topical Outline

NOTE: subject to change without notice

January 9  (Parrott)

Welcome & Orientation

Field trip photo show and information

Biogeography

SECTION I: Defining the tropics

January 14, 16, 21

Tropical climate overview (Rieger)

•   Solar radiation, temperature, global circulation patterns
•   Precipitation intensity, seasonality; wet/dry seasons
•   Microclimates, environmental modification
•   Temporal and spatial distribution of crop production in relation to climate

January 23, 28

Soils- the primary foundation for an ecosystem (Guest lectures, Dr. Larry West)

•   Tropical soils overview
•   Soil types, potential productivity
•   Erosion, soil conservation

January 30

Tropical ecosystems (Rieger)

•   Lowland rain forests
•   Cloud forest
•   Dry forests
•   Savannah
•   Quiz 1 to students

February 4

Reading & interpreting information- developing critical thinking skills (Guest lecture, Dr, Michelle Momany)

February 6

Sustainability

•   Miguel Altieri
•   Dennis Avery
•   Altieri vs Avery discussion questions due

February 11

Discussion # 1: Defining Sustainability (Parrott) -

• Quiz 1 due

SECTION II: Tropical America crops & production systems

February 13

PreColumbian systems (Parrott)

•   Native crops
•   Slash and burn
•   Raised fields
•   Terracing
•   Maize
•   Case study- Cop‡n
•   NOTE: Project outline & 10 literature sources due!

February 18

Farming systems (Parrott)

•   Plantations
•   Small-plot farms
•   Contract farming
•   Case study -tobacco
•   Trip application forms and $50 application fee due

February 20

Staple crops & the Green Revolution (Parrott)

February 25

Plantation Crops I - Shade Crops (Parrott)

• Cacao, coffee, & tea

February 27

Plantation Crops II - Plantations vs. Extractive Economy (Parrott)

•   Rubber & Oil Palm
•   Chicle

March 4

Organic Agriculture (Rieger)

March 6

Discussion # 2:  Pesticides and sustainability (Rieger)

•   Discussion questions on organic agriculture due
•   Quiz 2 to students

March 11

Specialty Crops I

•   Medicinal plants (guest lecture, Dr. Jim Affolter)

March 13 - Last class before spring break

Plantation Crops III - Intensively Managed Crops (Rieger)

•   Sugarcane
•   Banana
•   Pineapple
•   Rough draft for term project due on diskette or by email
•   Quiz 2 due
•   NOTE: $450 trip deposit due!!

March 25

Orchard crops (Rieger)

•   Fruits from the rainforest?
•   Temperate fruits in tropical countries
•   Major & exotic tropical fruits

March 27

Forest plantations & Agroforestry (Guest Lecture, Dr. Diana Lieberman)

April 1

Guest Lecture, Dr. Harold Brown

  The Greening of Georgia

April 3

Specialty Crops II (Parrott & Rieger)

•   Pastures & cattle
•   Flowers and ornamentals for export

April 8

Biotechnology in agriculture (Parrott)

•   Discussion questions on biotechnology due

April 10

Discussion # 3: Genetic engineering

•   Biotechnology readings due

April 15, 17, 22, 24, 29

Student oral presentations:  Web pages due on day of presentation

•   Quiz 3 to students (April 10)
•   Quiz 3 due (April 17)

Saturday, May 3^RD, 1 to 3 pm

Trip orientation  (Parrott, Rieger)

*Parents are encouraged to attend*

•   Health and safety issues (e.g., immunization, foods, hygiene, first aid)
•   Legal issues (passports, laws, insurance, signing of waivers)
•   Travel tips and preparations (packing, money)
•   Other (appropriate dress and behavior)
•   Balance payment for the trip is due