COURSE IS NOW FULL
**To be placed on the wait list you must register for the course using the registration form, but do NOT pay the deposit. You will be contacted if a spot opens up and will pay the deposit at that time.**
MARINE ECOLOGY- BIO 296
DR. JEAN BOAL & Dr. CHRISTOPHER STIEHA - MILLERSVILLE UNIVERSITY
"Course Description:
Marine Ecology is the study of marine organisms that focuses on their interactions with their living and non-living environments. This course will combine a global perspective of marine ecological principles, through lectures and readings, with the application of these principles to near-shore populations and communities through field explorations and experiments.
Marketable Skills Gained from This Course:
Biodiversity Survey Techniques
Field Data Collection
Field Statistics
Course Plan:
In the first week of the course, we will focus on organisms and energy. We will begin by considering the physical factors that shape life in the marine environment. Next, we will consider species richness and diversity and what physical and biological factors determine biodiversity. We will then turn to considerations of energy, starting with primary (photosynthesis and chemosynthesis) and secondary (herbivores and detritivores) production. Field work for this first week will focus on descriptive and inferential methods in marine ecology and will take advantage of the diversity of marine habitats in close range of the CBFS.
In the second week, we will turn to interactions between species, and species recruitment, the essential reproductive component of marine life. We will explore the roles of predators, parasites, and pathogens in marine communities, the factors of competition and succession in determining the composition of marine communities, and the complexities of dispersal and settlement in determining which species are found where. Field work in this second week will focus on experimental tests of marine ecological hypotheses; the principles of good experimental design will be central to our explorations.
In the third week, we will turn more explicitly to human influences. We will examine the history of human use of marine and estuarine fishes, the current threats to marine ecosystems, and current best practices in marine conservation. Field work in this last week will center around students’ independent research projects, providing each student with the opportunity to further explore a question of her or his own particular interest.
Approximate Amount of Course Time Spent in Field:
40-50%
Prerequisites:
Required: One year of college biology with a C- or better.
Recommended: BIOL 211 - Botany, BIOL 221 - Zoology, BIOL 291 - Marine Biology or equivalent courses.
Textbook or Supplies:
Bertness, M.D. (2007) Atlantic Shorelines: Natural History and Ecology. Princeton University Press. (ISBN-10: 0691125546) Available new from the publisher for $50.
Required Academic Items:
Field notebook: Rite in the Rain All-Weather Field Polydura Spiral Notebook, Numbered Pages
Pencils, pens, 3-ring binder and lined paper OR spiral notebook and folders
Plain white paper, color pencils, ruler, stapler
Calculator, flash drive / memory stick
Optional Academic Items:
Headlamp or a flashlight (to see night-active organisms)
Field guides
Binoculars
Laptop or tablet computer
Camera (on your phone is fine)
Necessary computer cables, power cords, USB connectors, etc.
Personal Items:
Photo ID (preferably a driver’s license)
Cell phone (for personal use)
Spending money for snacks, recreation, or eating out
Insect repellant
Sun protection - sunscreen, shade hat, sunglasses, long-sleeved shirt
Personal items including prescription medications
Medication for motion sickness, if you need it
Alarm clock or alarm on cell phone
Fan for your dorm room (if you are staying in the old dorms)
Sheets, blankets (it may be cool), and a pillow
Towels for showering and for use at the beach
Warm clothing in case of cold or wind - layers are great for changeable weather
Rain gear - we will go out unless there is lightening
(Note: sweatpants and sweatshirts are worse than useless when wet)
Swim suit or other clothing you can wear into the water
Sturdy wading shoes you can wear into the water and that will protect your feet from sharp objects; sneakers or similar closed-toe, rubber-soled tie shoes (required on the boat; can be the same as your wading shoes); shower shoes
Number of Students:
10-16
Chincoteague Bay Field Station Fee*:
Salicornia: $922
Traditional: $816
* Does not include university tuition or fees. For specific policy on CBFS fees, click HERE.
Marine Ecology is the study of marine organisms that focuses on their interactions with their living and non-living environments. This course will combine a global perspective of marine ecological principles, through lectures and readings, with the application of these principles to near-shore populations and communities through field explorations and experiments.
Marketable Skills Gained from This Course:
Biodiversity Survey Techniques
Field Data Collection
Field Statistics
Course Plan:
In the first week of the course, we will focus on organisms and energy. We will begin by considering the physical factors that shape life in the marine environment. Next, we will consider species richness and diversity and what physical and biological factors determine biodiversity. We will then turn to considerations of energy, starting with primary (photosynthesis and chemosynthesis) and secondary (herbivores and detritivores) production. Field work for this first week will focus on descriptive and inferential methods in marine ecology and will take advantage of the diversity of marine habitats in close range of the CBFS.
In the second week, we will turn to interactions between species, and species recruitment, the essential reproductive component of marine life. We will explore the roles of predators, parasites, and pathogens in marine communities, the factors of competition and succession in determining the composition of marine communities, and the complexities of dispersal and settlement in determining which species are found where. Field work in this second week will focus on experimental tests of marine ecological hypotheses; the principles of good experimental design will be central to our explorations.
In the third week, we will turn more explicitly to human influences. We will examine the history of human use of marine and estuarine fishes, the current threats to marine ecosystems, and current best practices in marine conservation. Field work in this last week will center around students’ independent research projects, providing each student with the opportunity to further explore a question of her or his own particular interest.
Approximate Amount of Course Time Spent in Field:
40-50%
Prerequisites:
Required: One year of college biology with a C- or better.
Recommended: BIOL 211 - Botany, BIOL 221 - Zoology, BIOL 291 - Marine Biology or equivalent courses.
Textbook or Supplies:
Bertness, M.D. (2007) Atlantic Shorelines: Natural History and Ecology. Princeton University Press. (ISBN-10: 0691125546) Available new from the publisher for $50.
Required Academic Items:
Field notebook: Rite in the Rain All-Weather Field Polydura Spiral Notebook, Numbered Pages
Pencils, pens, 3-ring binder and lined paper OR spiral notebook and folders
Plain white paper, color pencils, ruler, stapler
Calculator, flash drive / memory stick
Optional Academic Items:
Headlamp or a flashlight (to see night-active organisms)
Field guides
Binoculars
Laptop or tablet computer
Camera (on your phone is fine)
Necessary computer cables, power cords, USB connectors, etc.
Personal Items:
Photo ID (preferably a driver’s license)
Cell phone (for personal use)
Spending money for snacks, recreation, or eating out
Insect repellant
Sun protection - sunscreen, shade hat, sunglasses, long-sleeved shirt
Personal items including prescription medications
Medication for motion sickness, if you need it
Alarm clock or alarm on cell phone
Fan for your dorm room (if you are staying in the old dorms)
Sheets, blankets (it may be cool), and a pillow
Towels for showering and for use at the beach
Warm clothing in case of cold or wind - layers are great for changeable weather
Rain gear - we will go out unless there is lightening
(Note: sweatpants and sweatshirts are worse than useless when wet)
Swim suit or other clothing you can wear into the water
Sturdy wading shoes you can wear into the water and that will protect your feet from sharp objects; sneakers or similar closed-toe, rubber-soled tie shoes (required on the boat; can be the same as your wading shoes); shower shoes
Number of Students:
10-16
Chincoteague Bay Field Station Fee*:
Salicornia: $922
Traditional: $816
* Does not include university tuition or fees. For specific policy on CBFS fees, click HERE.
