BIO 398 - Topics in Marine Biology

Coral reefs are highly productive and diverse ecosystems that are threatened by factors ranging from local point-source pollution to overfishing and global climate change. In this seminar course, we will focus on key aspects of both the biology of reef-building corals and the ecology of tropical coral reef ecosystems. This includes coverage of historical and contemporary coral reef distributions, evolutionary history of corals, biogeography, and the ecological processes characteristic of coral reefs with a focus on Caribbean coral reefs. Basic coral anatomy, identification, and physiology will also be discussed. An emphasis will also be placed on reef fishes and their interaction with coral communities, as well as other organisms that make up the coral reef ecosystem. Modern threats to coral reef ecosystems, including overfishing, thermal bleaching, ocean acidification, and diseases of corals, will be examined with particular emphasis on processes affecting the future status of reef communities and possible solutions. Three hours of lecture per week.

Prerequisites
BIO215 or BIO221 or BIO231 or Instructor’s Permission.

Credits 4

Notes
From time to time, departments design a new course to be offered either on a one-time basis or an experimental basis before deciding whether to make it a regular part of the curriculum.

Compass Attributes
Natural Science