Organization for Tropical Studies
- Description
- The Organization for
Tropical Studies (OTS) includes about 50 U.S. and Costa
Rican universities and research organizations. A U.S.
non-profit organization, its mission is to provide leadership
in education, research, and wise use of natural resources in
the tropics. Since 1963, about 2000 students from over 30
countries have studied field biology under OTS sponsorship. OTS
owns or has access to several major field stations in Costa
Rica. La Selva Biological Station, the primary OTS facility, is
a rainforest located in the Atlantic lowlands adjacent to the
110,000 acre Braullio Carrillo National Park and was recently
recognized by the National Academy of Sciences as one of the
four premier sites for tropical moist forest research. The Las
Cruces Biological Station includes mid-elevation forest and
botanical gardens near the border of Costa Rica and Panama. The
Palo Verde Station is located within the Palo Verde National
Park in northwestern Costa Rica.
Pictured below: Labs at La Selva.
-
- Location
- Costa Rica.
- Contact
- Shahid Naeem, Department of Zoology, 206-616-2122,
naeems@u.washington.edu
- Acreage
- 3900 acres at La Selva; 390 acres at Wilson Botanical
Garden; access to 79,000 acre park and refuge at Palo Verde
Station.
- Buildings
- La Selva has a modern laboratory, housing, and dining
facilities. Las Cruces has modern facilities. Palo Verde offers
dormitory-style accommodations.
- Housing
- La Selva can accommodate nearly 100 visitors. Las Cruces
can accommodate 50 visitors. Palo Verde Station can accommodate
30 visitors.
- Owner
- OTS. The UW has two members on its Board of Directors.
- Recent Usage
- Research: Student and faculty research.
Instruction: UW and other OTS member students have
priority for participation in courses offered each year by OTS.
Courses in English and Spanish include Tropical Biology: An
Ecological Approach, Tropical Agroforestry, and Tropical
Agricultural Ecology. Non-UW: Educational programs,
tours, researchers.
- Usage Fee
- Uw receives member institution rates for researchers.
- Condition
- Excellent.
- Communication
- OTS, North American Offices: 919-684-57874, FAX
919-684-5661; email: nao@acpub.duke.edu
- Access
- All stations are served by all-weather roads.
- Unique Environment
- La Selva's biological diversity includes 500 species of
birds and 800 species of trees--more than found in all of the
U.S. and Canada.
- Faculty/Staff
- Shahid Naeem, Department of Zoology; Raymond B. Huey,
Department of Zoology.
