Course description and expectations: Arguably, the most significant issue we are now facing is environmental degradation.  The intensive utilization of our natural resources in a non-sustainable manner has contributed to environmental deterioration at a global scale.  Because coastal and marine habitats are affected directly or indirectly by many of these human activities, this course has a strong environmental science and policy component that will underscore most of our discussions, assignments, and exams.  Unlike a traditional marine ecology course, our focus will include the impact of anthropogenic activities on coastal and oceanic systems.  This course will also explore potential strategies that allow humans to use marine resources in a sustainable manner.  We will initially focus on selected marine systems (e.g., coastal areas, coral reefs, deep sea, etc.) in order to explore various natural factors that affect marine biodiversity.  We will then consider the role of human disturbances and their effects of these systems.  Finally, we will briefly discuss various case studies as examples of the successful management strategies being implemented.  One of our goals is to familiarize you with some of the scientific concepts studied by marine ecology as a discipline.  In addition, and as important, is our goal to help you develop vital skills such as effective oral and written communication, critical thinking, and problem solving.  We will emphasize graphical representations and quantitative skills.

 Learning is an active process; therefore your success in this course will depend in part on your participation and group interactions.  The format of this course should enable you to take an active role in the learning process.  The lecture format is supplemented with a number of scheduled and impromptu discussions and “minute essays”.  In addition, exams and assignments will require you to work in small groups.  Inasmuch as your participation in these activities will be evaluated, we strongly recommend that you will come prepared to participate in class.  We recognize that we do not all share the same personalities (e.g., extroverts), therefore we have designed a number of diverse activities that do not penalize those who do not enjoy public speaking.  However, we expect that you all share in the process of discovery and expect you to give your maximum effort .
Evaluation :   There are several ways in which we will evaluate your progress in this class.  They are listed below with the relative values for your final grade and due dates.  Plan your semester taking these dates into consideration. Late materials will be penalized! (see policy below).  Evaluation of your class performance is in part based on your participation in discussions.  Therefore it is imperative that you are present during those dates.
 
 

 

Assignment	value	due date*
Take home exam 1	30%	26 Oct
Take home exam 2	30%	20 Dec
Lobster Fisheries essay	10%	23 Sep
Global issues essay	10%	18 Nov
Group presentation & summary	10%	Day of presentation
Participation in discussions and “minute” essays	10%

Deadlines: Late materials will be penalized a full letter grade for every late day! This policy has very little flexibility in order to ensure fairness.
 

Readings:

 

Subject	Readings
Sept 7	Introduction to course	Nybakken: p. 1-28
	Setting the stage: a glimpse at marine biodiversity
9	Coastal characters	Bertness: Ch. 2 & 5
14	Rocky shores	Nybakken, p. 236-276 Bertness: Ch. 4
16	Kelp communities  (video and response)	Nybakken: p. 201-209
21	Kelps & disturbances	Bertness: Ch. 4
23	Kelp forests & historical overfishing?	Discussion folder
28	Soft sediment communities (video and response)	Nybakken: Ch. 8
30	Mangroves	Nybakken:  p. 416-426 Rutzler & Feller
Oct  5	Salt marsh	Bertness: Ch. 7
7	Coral reefs (video & response)	Nybakken, p. 370-415
12	AUTUMN RECESS!
14	Coral reefs (con.)
19	Reef fish
21	*Reefs: human & natural disturbances	Discussion folder
26	Deep-sea: trickle-down effect (video & response)	Nybakken: p. 133-170
28	Deep-sea: (con.)
Nov 2	Deep-sea: vent communities	Tunnicliffe
4	*Deep-sea issues	Discussion folder
	Current problems & solutions
9	A closer look at biogeochemical cycles
11	Focus on CO2  & climate considerations
16	Uncertainty and climate change	Group presentation
18	Coastal pollution: focus on eutrophication	Nybakken: p. 476-485 Moffat
23	Case studies	Group presentation
25	THANKSGIVING BREAK
30	Fisheries: past hopes; current status	Nybakken: p. 458-474; Pauly et al.; Jackson et al.
Dec  2	Fisheries:case studies-temperate	Group presentation
7	Fisheries: case studies-tropical	Group presentation
9	Marine resources & protected areas	Group presentation
14	Final considerations