TROPICAL AUSTRALIAN ECOTOUR/COURSE July 17-Aug03

PLEASE FORWARD TO STUDENTS OR INTERESTED OTHER PARTIES SEATS STILL OPEN

BIOL1180 Tropical Biology - AUSTRALIA JULY 2002

This course introduces the concepts of ecology and organismic biology through an examination of both
tropical rainforests and coral reefs. Multiple field excursions will introduce students to the
biodiversity and conservation of tropical ecosystems, while discussions and field activities will
introduce concepts in taxonomy, basic organismic biology and adaptive physiology, and tropical
ecosystem processes.

contact Dr. Brent DeMars 440 953-7147 or [email protected] LAKELAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE,
KIRTLAND OHIO for more info. or a reservation

TOTAL COST is $3200 (all inclusive, even food) + tuition if desrired (graduate credit also
available)

DATES 2002: Jul 17-Aug. 3 (dates may change by a day or so to maintain least expensive housing and
flight rates)

*Affordable extensions are available to DARWIN/KAKADU NATIONAL PARK and AYERS ROCK (ULURU).

ITINERARY:

MEAL CODES: B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner

Note: Meals at Lizard Island are "self-catered". Field Course Staff prepare menus and order all
ingredients. Each meal includes two main responsibilities for participants-setup and cleanup.
Field Course Staff provide comprehensive preparation and cooking instructions for each meal,
detailing amounts of ingredients and cooking methods. Staff are also on-hand to assist with
preparation and cooking.

DAY 1 LOS ANGELES/SAN FRANCISCO. Following your arrival in Los Angeles/San Francisco, our group will
depart on a regularly scheduled flight for Australia. D

Note: Because of the flight departure time from Los Angeles/San Francisco, length of the flight to
Australia and crossing of the International Date Line, ADD TWO DAYS to your arrival date
(example: a group departing on Jun 19 will arrive Australia Jun 21). On the your return, you
will arrive in the U.S. on the same date that you depart Australia. This applies only to
groups flying Qantas Airlines.

DAY 2 ARRIVAL CAIRNS-CHARTER-FLIGHT LIZARD ISLAND-FIELD COURSE ORIENTATION. Following your arrival
in Cairns, Australia, you will be met by Australia Field Course Staff and take a charter-flight over
the Great Barrier Reef to Lizard Island. Here, we settle-in at the Australian Museum Research
Station. Later this afternoon, we will have an orientation session to the marine portion of our
Australia Field Course and the Research Station. This will be followed by an introduction to
snorkeling off the pure white sands of Research Beach. Dinner and overnight Lizard Island. B L D

Note: 3mm shortie wetsuits are available to participants on-site. We recommend that Field
Course participants bring their own 5mm full-body wetsuits for the highest quality
snorkeling experience and to insure best fit. Snorkeling gear including mask, snorkel and
fins are provided. Proper fit, again cannot be guaranteed and it is recommended that you
bring your own.

DAY 3 SNORKEL WATSONS BAY-REEF FISH IDENTIFICATION-DISCUSS MAJOR FISH GROUPS of the GREAT BARRIER
REEF and FISH SAMPLING TECHNIQUES-SNORKEL HORSESHOE PATCH REEF. Following an early breakfast, we
will depart for nearby Watsons Bay. Our group will focus on the identification of reef fish during
our morning snorkel here. We will return to Lizard Island for lunch and a discussion of The Major
Fish Families Found on the Great Barrier Reef. Various fish sampling techniques used by Researchers
will also be covered. This afternoon, we will depart for Horseshoe Patch Reef. This reef has been
specially protected from the coral eating "crown of thorns starfish", so we will observe a
particularly luxuriant hard coral community and large schools of reef fishes. In the late afternoon,
participants will return to Lizard Island for dinner and overnight. B L D

DAY 4 SNORKEL WATSONS BAY-FISH DENSITY and FEEDING BEHAVIOR-DISCUSS BIOLOGY of REEF FISHES-SNORKEL
CLAM GARDENS. After breakfast, we will again depart for Watsons Bay. Our goal this morning, will be
to observe fish feeding behavior and also attempt to measure density of local fish populations. We
will return to Lizard Island for lunch and a discussion of The Biology of Reef Fishes. After lunch,
our group will visit the nearby "Clam Gardens", which hosts one of the highest natural densities of
"giant clams" anywhere on the Great Barrier Reef. These huge bi-valves, which may live to be 50
years old and grow to over 5 feet in diameter are endangered in most of their former range. There
are literally hundreds of these giant mollusks found here. In the late afternoon, we will return to
Lizard Island for dinner and overnight. B L D

DAY 5 SNORKEL TURTLE BEACH/AGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR in REEF FISH-DISCUSS IDENTIFICATION of HARD, SOFT
CORALS and OTHER INVERTEBRATES-SNORKEL BLUE LAGOON. Early this morning, we will depart for Turtle
Beach. Our morning snorkel will focus on the aggressive behavior of herbivorous reef fishes and the
patterns of zonation in the local coral community. Participants will return to Lizard Island for
lunch and a mid-day discussion on The Identification of Coral Species and Other Invertebrates that
make-up the Great Barrier Reef. This afternoon, we will travel to the center of Lizard Island's Blue
Lagoon. Here, our group will observe the spectacular reef-flat coral community and snorkel with two
resident (and harmless) white-tip reef sharks. In the late afternoon, we will return to Lizard
Island for dinner and overnight. B L D

DAY 6 SNORKEL VIKIS REEF-DISCUSS BIOLOGY of CORALS-SNORKEL PALFREY HOLE-EXPLORATION of GHOST BEACH
on PALFREY ISLAND. Following breakfast, we will depart for Vikis Reef. This location will give us a
good opportunity to observe sea turtles and possibly manta rays, while snorkeling. Our group will
return to Lizard Island for lunch and a discussion on The Biology of Corals. Following lunch, we
will depart for and snorkel Palfrey Hole. Spectacular staghorn coral formations line the reef crest
in this area. We may also encounter "giant humphead parrot-fish" (200 lbs.) at this site. There will
also be time to go ashore on Palfrey Island to hike and explore deserted Ghost Beach. In the late
afternoon, our group will return to Lizard Island for dinner and overnight. B L D

DAY 7 SNORKEL CRAYFISH WALL-DISCUSS PHYSICAL CHARACTERSTICS and GEOMORPHOLOGY of the GREAT BARRIER
REEF-SNORKEL NORTH POINT and MERMAID COVE-HIKE LIZARD ISLAND MOUNTAIN-EVENING WRAP-UP SESSION. After
breakfast this morning, participants will depart for Crayfish Wall. Snorkeling here should give us a
good look at wrasses and reef sharks. We will return to Lizard Island for lunch and a discussion on
The Physical Characteristics of the Great Barrier Reef. This afternoon, we will snorkel North Point
and Mermaid Cove. Here, we will observe spectacular coral walls that plummet into deep water. Late
in the afternoon, participants will return to Watson's Bay and hike Lizard Island Mountain to
Captain Cooks Look, the point where the famous Captain plotted his course out of the Great Barrier
Reef and back to open water in 1788. Following dinner tonight, we will have a wrap-up session on the
marine portion of our Australia Field Course. Overnight Lizard Island. B L D

DAY 8 CAIRNS-MUNGALLI CREEK RAINFOREST VILLAGE-DISCUSS AUSTRALIAS WET TROPICS-RAINFOREST
HIKE-DISCUSS PLANTS and ANIMALS of the WET TROPICS. Following breakfast, our group will pack up, say
farewells to Lizard Island Field Course Staff and depart for Cairns by charter-flight. Upon arrival,
we will transfer to Mungalli Creek Rainforest Village in the Atherton Tablelands. Following lunch,
there will be a brief introduction to Australias Wet Tropics by terrestrial Staff. The afternoon
will be spent hiking in the rainforest near Mungalli Creek Rainforest Village. Our group will then
return to Mungalli Creek for dinner. This evening there will be a discussion on the Plants and
Animals of the Wet Tropics of Australia. Overnight Mungalli Creek. B L D

DAY 9 RAINFOREST HIKE-IDENTIFICATION of RAINFOREST TYPES-DISCUSS BIODIVERSITY in the WET
TROPICS-HIKE to LAKE BARRINE and LAKE EACHAM CRATER LAKES-OBSERVATION of NOCTURNAL ANIMALS. Early
this morning, we will hike along the Beatrice River Trail. We will discuss and observe various
rainforest types found in the region. Following lunch, we will discuss Various Determinants of
Biodiversity in the Wet Tropics of Australia. This afternoon, our group will hike to beautiful Lake
Barrine and Lake Eacham crater lakes. We will then return to Mungalli Creek for dinner. This
evening, our group will hike to Mt. Hypipamee in hopes of spotting arboreal mammals and other
nocturnal wildlife. Overnight Mungalli Creek. B L D

DAY 10 BIRDING-BIRD CENSUS TECHNIQUES-REPTILES-REPTILE CENSUS TECHNIQUES-DISCUSS ECOLOGICAL
PROCESSES in the WET TROPICS-HIKE WATERFALL CIRCUIT-FROGGING-FROG CENSUS TECHNIQUES. After breakfast
this morning, we will hike looking and listening for birds found in the region. Participants will
also be on the lookout for reptiles found here. Census techniques for both will also be discussed
and observed. After lunch at Mungalli Creek, we will discuss Various Ecological Processes in the Wet
Tropics of Australia. This afternoon will be spent hiking the "waterfall circuit", that includes
Millaa Millaa Falls, Zillie Falls and Elinjaa Falls. Late this afternoon, participants will return
to Mungalli Creek for dinner. This evening, we will go frogging and discuss various frog census
techniques. Overnight Mungalli Creek. B L D

DAY 11 OBSERVATION of PLATYPUS-HIKE TO PALMERSTON or BARTLE FRERE NATIONAL PARK-DISCUSS MANAGEMENT
ISSUES of the WET TROPICS. At sunrise today, we will hike to a nearby lake and observe the platypus,
one of many unique animals found in Australia. Following breakfast at Mungalli Creek, our group will
do an all-day hike to Nandroya Falls and Palmerston National Park or Josephine Falls and Broken Nose
in Bartle Frere National Park. Late in the afternoon, we will return to Mungalli Creek for dinner.
This evening, there will be a discussion on Land Management Issues of the Wet Tropics in Australia.
Overnight Mungalli Creek. B L D

DAY 12 CAIRNS. Following breakfast, we will depart Mungalli Creek Rainforest Village and return to
Cairns. Our group will settle-in at the Tuna Towers Hotel. This afternoon will be at leisure in
Cairns for sightseeing and shopping. Overnight Tuna Towers Hotel. B L D

Note: This afternoon will give people the chance to dive, do the Kuranda canopy cable ride outside
of Cairns, or just time to relax.

DAY 13 UNDARA SAVANNAH-SUNSET HIKE. Early this morning, participants will travel west through the
beautiful Atherton Tablelands to tropical north Queensland's Outback region, known as the Gulf
Savannah. Following our arrival at the Undara Lava Lodge, we will have lunch and then go for a
bush-walk, on one of the many local trails. There will also be some time to relax by the Lava Lodge
pool. Late this afternoon, participants will join our Savannah Guide for a magnificent sunset hike,
where the savannah life-zone found in this region, along with its flora and fauna will be discussed.
Following dinner, we will have an evening of activities around the campfire. Overnight at Swags Tent
Village. B L D

DAY 14 UNDARA LAVA TUBES-CAIRNS. Following an early breakfast at the Ringers Camp, we will join our
Savannah Guide for a half-day lava tube tour. The Undara Lava Tubes were formed some 190,000 years
ago when a major crater in the McBride Volcanic Province erupted, its molten lava then flowed down a
dry river bed. As the top layer quickly cooled and crusted, the fiery magma below continued to flow
through the tubes taking it further and further from the crater. As the eruption slowed, and then
stopped, the lava drained out of the tubes leaving a series of long, hollow tunnels. Ancient roof
collapses created deep, dark and moist depressions, where fertile pockets of rainforest can now be
seen. Rainforest plants and animals thrive in this environment, where each tube offers an insight
into this rare geological wonder. The word "Undara" is an Aboriginal word meaning "a long way", and
one of the lava flows from Undara extends for 100 miles, making it the longest lava flow from a
single crater on Earth. After lunch, we will return to Cairns for dinner and overnight at Tuna
Towers Hotel. B L D

DAY 15 UNDARA.

DAY 16 DEPARTURE. After an early breakfast and farewells to our Australia Field Course Staff, you
will be transferred to the airport in Cairns for your return flight home. B

DAY 17 ARRIVE LOS ANGELES/SAN FRANCISCO. Following our mid-day arrival in Los Angeles/San Francisco
group members will board their connecting flight for home.

Note: Due to weather conditions and circumstances beyond the control of Staff, certain activities
may be changed or done on different days in the best interest of the group.

TROPICAL AUSTRALIAN ECOTOUR/COURSE July 17-Aug03

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