Isla Mar Research Expeditions Field Course Basics | Page 8

RIDGES TO REEFS
CONNECTIVITY FROM RAINFOREST TO REEF
What happens on land affects the
ocean, especially on an island.
Students will learn about the links between
freshwater mountain ecosystems and coastal
marine ecosystems. 
Our focus would explore coral reef
conservation with an emphasis on land and sea
connectivity. An example topic would include
measuring levels of sedimentation on coral
reefs from inshore to offshore. 
This theme would include exploration of the El
Yunque National Rainforest, the Pterocarpus
forest of Humacao, the dry forest of Guanica
and the coral reef systems of La Parguera or
Rincon. 
This theme would be appropriate for a project-
or exploratory- based field course. Students
can collect data as a group or develop
independent projects. 
Students should be comfortable with frequent
car travel and hiking.