The Fall 2011 UC Berkeley course, “The Biology and Geomorphology of Tropical Islands”, is a University of California Berkeley course held at the Richard B. Gump South Pacific Research Station in French Polynesia. Professors George Roderick, Vincent Resh, Jere Lipps, and Patrick Kirch guide students through the entire scientific process, from initial field observations to the publication of final research papers. The sources feature independent research on diverse ecological topics, including the social structures of Tahitian rays, anti-predator behaviors in sea urchins, and the visual cues used by angelfish to assess threat. Other student projects examine the impacts of invasive species like birds and ants, mutualistic relationships such as those between sea star shrimp and cushion stars, and the legacies of prehistoric Ma'ohi land use on modern forest composition. Additionally, students conduct studies on marine environmental health, including comparative assessments of coral disease and the distribution of suspension feeders