BIOL 3820U – Marine Ecology
This course is part of the Biological Science – Marine Biology Specialization and is offered by the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS). The course is only open to students enrolled in the Marine Biology specialization and can only be taken as part of the semester abroad with BIOS.
The objective of the course is to provide a basic grounding in ecological principles using marine examples, and to discuss the factors that influence the distribution, abundance and diversity of marine organisms. Tropical marine ecosystems will be the focus of this class, primarily coral reef, seagrass and mangrove ecology. Students
start with an introduction into the ocean environment and marine life, covering primary production and abiotic factors affecting life in the sea, and then explore the habitat ecology of coral reefs. The class will then progress to looking at trophic levels and energy transfer, and then will explore seagrass and mangrove communities. The ecological processes of disturbance and competition and life history strategies will then be explained using marine examples, and we will finish with a consideration of human impacts to the marine environment and conservation management. The integrated field trips and laboratory work are designed to provide experience in commonly used marine ecological field sampling techniques and in scientific writing.
Credit hours: 6
Lecture hours: 6 hrs/week (7 weeks)
Laboratory hours: 10 hrs/week (7 weeks)
Prerequisite(s): Enrolment in the Marine Biology specialization, 3 year level standing, and faculty approval.
Experiential learning: Yes
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