BIO 458a - Chilean Patagonia: Conservation, Agroecology, and Natural Historys
BIO 458b - Agroecology, Food Production and Trade

Trip Description:
Chile is a long, narrow, South American country, situated between the Andes Mountains on the east and the Pacific Ocean on the west, bordering Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina. This 2,700 mi long country is only 217 mi wide at its widest point, yet it is this unique shape, dictated by partially by political borders but primarily by natural geological barriers, that supports at least 7 major climatic subtypes and a delicately balanced flora/fauna communities.

During our trip we will spend time in several climatic subtypes, including temperate (Santiago) and maritime temperate (Valpaiaraso, and Vina del Mar, Chile) locales in the central/central-­‐west regions, and also the Maritime Subarctic climates of the Patagonia. A majority of our time will be spent exploring the ice cap, maritime temperate, and temperate highland climates of Magallanes y la Antárctica Chilena region, especially the UNESCO – MAB Biosphere Reserve, Torres del Paine National Park. Torres del Paine encompasses some 242,000 hectacres including Paine
mastiff, an eastern spur of the Andes Mountains. Our exploration of this park will cover at least four distinct zones of vegetation, expose students to glaciers and glacial geology, as well as the native flora/fauna of the region. We will focus in all of our destinations on the plants, animals, and cultures that have evolved to thrive within these often extreme habitats. Additionally, we will spend considerable time
discussing the conservation efforts and governmental legislation designed to protect the natural history and argoecology of Chile for both ecological and economical reasons.