COASTAL ENVIRONMENTAL OCEANOGRAPHY (Florida Edition)- ESS 451
DR. SEAN CORNELL - SHIPPENSBURG UNIVERSITY
Important: This course includes travel to the Florida Keys. The course will be offered in 2016 without the travel component.
Description:
This field-intensive course examines the interaction of biological, chemical, physical, geological, and ecological ocean processes as applied to coastal environments. A significant emphasis is focused on describing and documenting coastal environments, their biotas, their environmental tolerances and ranges. Emphasis is also placed on environmental management issues of the coastal zone. Topics include water quality analysis, barrier island geology and ecology, estuarine pollution, beach defense and biological implications in areas of coastal upwelling and coastal fronts. Specific cases in coastal pollution, human impacts on coastal landforms, shoreline erosion, wetland loss, sea-level fluctuations, nutrients in estuaries, and climate change will be examined from coastal environments around the U.S. Lecture, field trips, and laboratory exercises are designed to provide students with hands-on experience with field and laboratory equipment used t o solve real-world problems in diverse coastal settings. The course may also include a travel component to the Florida Keys Marine Lab or similar research facility for additional field experience.
General Description of Field Activities:
Students will have multiple field experiences, if not daily, that will involve time on boats, in bays, marshes, creeks and on the ocean. Students will utilize kayaks, and will access other sites on both mainland and barrier island settings. These will include salt marshes, freshwater swamps, maritime forests, dune environments and others. Students will work with various types of field equipment to collect environmental data and quantify various components of ecosystems operating in coastal zones.
One important element of studying coastal environmental systems is learning to recognize the differences between coastal ecosystems that are controlled primarily by differences in nutrient loading. In this course, we will investigate nutrient-rich coastal ecosystems (Virginia) as well as nutrient-poor coastal ecosystems (Florida). As such we will visit southern Florida and the Florida Keys where we will explore nutrient-poor coastal systems from the Everglades through Florida Bay, out into the mangrove-ringed keys and out to the barrier coral reefs. Each day we will explore various elements of coastal ecosystems, discuss ecosystem services of those systems, and identify physical, biological, and chemical indicators of the quality or health of these environments. Students should prepare to be in the field on a daily basis and make numerous field observations. Many of our observations will be from snorkeling in both mangroves, open bay, and offshore reef environments. There are optional scuba dives for certified persons, additional fees apply.
Note on Travel to Florida:
Travel plans will be finalized at a later date. Travel to and from Florida is done in vans provided by the field station. All travel will take place within the 3 weeks of the session dates. Costs will be finalized in the spring. In 2016 the same course will be offered via Lock Haven University without the travel component.
Prerequisites:
Oceanography class or permission of the instructor.
Required Textbook or Supplies:
Students will need to purchase:
The Rising Sea: Orrin H. Pilkey, Rob Young: 9781610910040
Some books that are also recommended but are not required:
Death of the Chesapeake: A History of the Military's Role in Polluting the Bay by: Richard Albright
Clean Coastal Waters: Understanding and Reducing the Effects of Nutrient Pollution ISBN: 0309069483
Number of Students: 10-14
Chincoteague Bay Field Station Fee: approximately $1200-$1400
Does not include tuition or other university fees.
Does include travel costs to Florida. Additional fees may apply for optional scuba dives.
Description:
This field-intensive course examines the interaction of biological, chemical, physical, geological, and ecological ocean processes as applied to coastal environments. A significant emphasis is focused on describing and documenting coastal environments, their biotas, their environmental tolerances and ranges. Emphasis is also placed on environmental management issues of the coastal zone. Topics include water quality analysis, barrier island geology and ecology, estuarine pollution, beach defense and biological implications in areas of coastal upwelling and coastal fronts. Specific cases in coastal pollution, human impacts on coastal landforms, shoreline erosion, wetland loss, sea-level fluctuations, nutrients in estuaries, and climate change will be examined from coastal environments around the U.S. Lecture, field trips, and laboratory exercises are designed to provide students with hands-on experience with field and laboratory equipment used t o solve real-world problems in diverse coastal settings. The course may also include a travel component to the Florida Keys Marine Lab or similar research facility for additional field experience.
General Description of Field Activities:
Students will have multiple field experiences, if not daily, that will involve time on boats, in bays, marshes, creeks and on the ocean. Students will utilize kayaks, and will access other sites on both mainland and barrier island settings. These will include salt marshes, freshwater swamps, maritime forests, dune environments and others. Students will work with various types of field equipment to collect environmental data and quantify various components of ecosystems operating in coastal zones.
One important element of studying coastal environmental systems is learning to recognize the differences between coastal ecosystems that are controlled primarily by differences in nutrient loading. In this course, we will investigate nutrient-rich coastal ecosystems (Virginia) as well as nutrient-poor coastal ecosystems (Florida). As such we will visit southern Florida and the Florida Keys where we will explore nutrient-poor coastal systems from the Everglades through Florida Bay, out into the mangrove-ringed keys and out to the barrier coral reefs. Each day we will explore various elements of coastal ecosystems, discuss ecosystem services of those systems, and identify physical, biological, and chemical indicators of the quality or health of these environments. Students should prepare to be in the field on a daily basis and make numerous field observations. Many of our observations will be from snorkeling in both mangroves, open bay, and offshore reef environments. There are optional scuba dives for certified persons, additional fees apply.
Note on Travel to Florida:
Travel plans will be finalized at a later date. Travel to and from Florida is done in vans provided by the field station. All travel will take place within the 3 weeks of the session dates. Costs will be finalized in the spring. In 2016 the same course will be offered via Lock Haven University without the travel component.
Prerequisites:
Oceanography class or permission of the instructor.
Required Textbook or Supplies:
Students will need to purchase:
The Rising Sea: Orrin H. Pilkey, Rob Young: 9781610910040
Some books that are also recommended but are not required:
Death of the Chesapeake: A History of the Military's Role in Polluting the Bay by: Richard Albright
Clean Coastal Waters: Understanding and Reducing the Effects of Nutrient Pollution ISBN: 0309069483
Number of Students: 10-14
Chincoteague Bay Field Station Fee: approximately $1200-$1400
Does not include tuition or other university fees.
Does include travel costs to Florida. Additional fees may apply for optional scuba dives.
| 2013 Syllabus |
