COURSE DETAIL
Taiwan is an island country rich in biodiversity. It is located between the Eurasian Plate and Philippine Sea Plate, and its geological structure is quite young. The orogeny in Taiwan form many towering mountains, so even though Taiwan is in the tropical and subtropical zone, a temperate climate is still found at high altitudes. Taiwan is also known for a high percentage of endemic species, because in the Ice Age, Taiwan was connected to Eurasia. After the Ice Age, Taiwan was isolated by the ocean, and many lives gradually evolved into endemic species on the island. Now, the proportion of endemic species in Taiwan is about 71% mammals, 17% birds, 22% reptiles, 31% amphibians, 19% freshwater fish, 25% plants, and 60% insects. Although the land area of Taiwan is only 0.027% of the total of the world, the number of species is as high as 3.8%, which is 150 times the global average. Furthermore, the marine species around Taiwan are about 10% of the world, which is 361 times the average. Taiwan is not a country with large territory, but has rich biological resources. This course invites guest speakers in different fields to talk about the geography, wildlife, ecosystem, and culture of Taiwan. The course studies the natural environment of Taiwan through lectures and field trips.