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Costa Rica Hosts 1,000 Biologists
Nearly 1,000 people ventured to Costa Rica to attend the ATBC-OTS meeting, held Jun 23-27 at the convention center in San Jose, to celebrating OTS' and ATBC's 50th anniversaries. The meeting was a huge success and generated many thought provoking discussions on what we have learned over the past 50 years and the challenges facing tropical research today. Topics of discussion surrounding the main themes of the meeting included a review of the current frontiers of tropical biology and conservation, discussions and dissemination on research priorities for the coming 50 years, as well as excellent networking opportunities crossing multiple generations of tropical biologists.  | |
2013 plenary speakers: Deborah Clark, Rodrigo Gamez,
Dan Janzen and Winnie Hallwach
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Several authors have uploaded their presentations in pdf format. To view the available presentations, click here. To view the pdf format of plenary speaker presentations, click here.
Meeting Photos AvailableIf you have a Facebook account, please visit the link below to join the ATBC2013 group. You can post your own photos and comment on those posted by your friends as well as the official meeting photographers, Yumil and Celia Coto.
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OTS Mixer: The Place to Be Seen
If you attended the OTS Mixer st the ATBC-OTS meeting, you were not alone! OTSers were in large attendance at the meeting and showed up in full force at the mixer. It was a great opportunity to catch up with old friends and colleagues. We also displayed a presentation of word clouds representing the various groups within our community. If you attended the mixer, but were too busy reconnecting with old friends, or if you were not able to travel to Costa Rica, just click here to view the slideshow.
OTS Raffle Opportunity
In honor of our 50th Anniversary, we are pleased to offer our community the chance to win a signed copy of E.O. Wilson's new book, Letters to a Young Scientist. 
The inscription reads "Honoring OTS' 50th, from one on the founders" with his well-known ant drawing. Below this, his signature and the date "June 19, 2013". To buy a ticket, click here
Important: You MUST type the word WILSON in the comments section to be included in the drawing.
All proceeds will be directed to the OTS Station Greening Initiative. Entries will be accepted from July 24 - August 14, 2013. Winner will be notified by email.
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State of the Tropics: Early Insights Reports Released
 Key institutions from across the world have joined forces to assess and report on the critical questions facing one of the world's most important and fastest growing regions.
The State of the Tropics Report is being developed to answer a very simple question: "Is life in the tropics getting better?" The Report will analyze a range of environmental, social, and economic indicators to answer this question. The analysis will provide a foundation for policy makers, geopolitical analysts, and other stakeholders to examine in greater detail the tropics and the major issues affecting it.
While the world's primary forests have declined by almost four per cent in the past ten years with the vast majority of these losses in the Tropics, in it's latest interim report, the State of the Tropics (grouping of 12 leading research institutions in 11 countries) says the rate of loss in the tropics is slowing.
The report was released on June 26 at the Association for Tropical and Biology and Conservation (ATBC) and the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS) meeting in San Jose, Costa Rica, by Dr. Elizabeth C. Losos, President and CEO of OTS.
The full State of the Tropics Report is expected to be published later this year and will shine a light on the critical importance of the people and issues of the tropical world, and contribute to efforts to improve the lives of the peoples of the Tropics and their environment.
Several Early Insights Reports have been released and are available for download in English and Spanish.
Available Early Insight Reports
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2014 T-shirt Contest - We have a winner!
 We are pleased to present the winning design in the 2014 OTS T-shirt contest! Thank you to everyone who voted.
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 Ensuring a Sustainable Future
In recognition of our 50th Anniversary, OTS is launching an ambitious campaign to become an organizational model of environmental efficiency and to demonstrate conscientious use of resources in tropical environments.
Our vision is to transform our research stations into environmentally sustainable sites that enable researchers and students alike to work to the best of their abilities while minimizing our carbon footprint.
With your help,we will address our use of water, energy, and everyday supplies with thoughtful attention to a combination of local suitability, available technology, and education of users. Many of our buildings, constructed with limited resources during our first 50 years, now require retrofitting and, in some cases, reconstruction. Operating equipment, acquired over five decades, must continue to meet the needs of researchers and students and demonstrate the resourceful use of energy efficient technology.
It's a grand challenge. We can become a model of resource use for other field stations throughout the world, a teaching center for Costa Rica and the countries of Central America, and a practical showcase for our friends and colleagues living in the neighboring communities surrounding our stations.
We invite you to join our effort. Help us make our stations ready to accommodate the next fifty years of research and training. 
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An Introduction to Tropical Ecology - Winter opportunity!
Winter session: 4 weeks
December 29 - January 24
Application Deadline: September 16, 2013
(4 credits awarded by the University of Costa Rica)
An Introduction to Tropical Ecology is an intensive, four-week course in field research and tropical ecology. This course uses the OTS "field problems" to analyze biodiversity conservation issues in tropical lowland forest, tropical dry forest, montane forest and the Costa Rican páramo.
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Conservation Genetics
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Photo by JC Ulate
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This two-week course is oriented towards graduate students with diverse research interests and experiences (e.g. plant, animal; terrestrial, aquatic, etc.). Topics covered include: measurement of genetic diversity and genetic structure, phylogeography, application of molecular data to taxonomic questions, gene flow, mating systems, effective population size estimates, and the application of genetic information for the management and restoration of disturbed landscapes. Students will also obtain fundamental understanding pertinent computer software and will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of available software.
Coordinator: Jim Hamrick (Lab website)
Course duration: 2 weeks (May 24 to June 8, 2014)
Application Deadline: February 3, 2014 for priority consideration, followed by rolling admission until fully enrolled.
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Ecology and Evolution of Arachnids
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Photo by J. Staf
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This two-week course is oriented towards graduate students and upper level undergraduates with an interest in arthropods. The course will be held at the La Selva Biological Research Station, Costa Rica. Students will delve into current scientific research and discover the cutting edge questions and approaches implemented by leading arachnologists. Students will also obtain fundamental understanding of arachnid evolution, with a focus on evolutionary relationship among extant and extinct chelicerate groups.
Coordinator: Eileen Hebets (Lab website)
Course duration: 2 weeks (January 3-17, 2014)
Application Deadline:October 1, 2013 for priority consideration, followed by rolling admission until fully enrolled.
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