Canopy Biology
Canopy Biology
Offered through Organization for Tropical Studies/Organización Para Estudios Tropicales
This is the Canopy Biology Course Website and our Blog! Please navigate to the Course Essentials page for packing lists, course materials, and (hopefully) our blog.
Meet Your Instructors
Co-Coordinator
David L. Anderson, PhD
Executive Director, Canopy Watch International
I have worked in conservation biology and sustainable development in Latin America since I served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Honduras in 1991. I obtained my M.S. degree in Raptor Biology (Boise State University, 1998) and Ph.D. in Biology (Louisiana State University, 2010) studying community assembly patterns of birds inhabiting the rainforest canopy of Honduras, which is where I first learned methods to access the forest canopy for science. I worked 10 years at The Peregrine Fund where I was the Director of the Gyrfalcon and Tundra Conservation Program and Co-Director of the Darien Conservation Initiative. I’m passionate about climbing, training, tropical biology, and culture in Latin America. My name is David L. Anderson and I’m honored to be your instructor in this canopy biology course.
Co-Coordinator
I am interested in one of ecology's fundamental questions: What are the patterns of biodiversity? As well as in one of today's most pressing questions: How will biodiversity respond to a changing environment? Much of my work has focused specifically on tropical forest canopies where I use multiple ecological approaches to better understand the factors that control species richness and distribution.
I teach courses on Ecology, Tropical Ecology, Conservation Biology, Ecosystem Ecology, and General Biology.
Canopy Technician
Luis Felipe Barrera Rodríguez
Conservacionista y naturalista con más de 15 años de experiencia profesional en el diseño, conformación y manejo de más de 50.000 hectáreas de áreas protegidas privadas en Colombia, elaboración de propuestas y gestión de recursos para programas de investigación, educación ambiental, desarrollo sostenible, manejo de comunidades étnicas y conservación de especies amenazadas de fauna silvestre. Amplios conocimientos en técnicas para el estudio y monitoreo de fauna, sistemas de información geográfica, mapeo con drones, trepador de árboles, fotógrafo de vida silvestre y paisajismo.
Teaching Assistant
Jeremy Quirós
Botanist and dedrologist with 7 years of tree climbing experience.
Project: Tree Hunters of Costa Rica
Where I look for and document emergent and mother trees.
Member, Global Organization of Tree Climbers