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Field Biology Highlighted on Term III Trip to Hawaii

Elmira, NY (06/11/2019) — Dr. Daniel Kjar, associate professor of biology, and Dr. Betsy Smith, assistant professor of chemistry, recently took a Term III class to Hawaii for field studies. The class, titled "Field Biology," allowed students to explore the ecology of successional communities, the theory of island biogeography, and ecological sampling.

"Students learned about the biology of succession and the methods used by ecologists to explore the importance of this process on communities," explained Kjar. "Students also studied the theory of island biogeography, an important part of our understanding of species diversity and distribution."

The course was broken into two sections, which included on-campus coursework and travel to Hawaii. Students spent roughly three weeks on campus studying ecology and field methods in forest near Elmira and Ithaca, New York, and then an additional two weeks for travel and exploration of Hawaii.

While on the Big Island, the class had the opportunity to travel the island and experience all of these ecological processes occurring around them. Various locations visited included tropical forests, black and green sand beaches, active volcanoes, alpine deserts, coral reefs, and even a coffee and macadamia nut farm.

For more information and to see photos of the trip, visit the class Facebook group.

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