360. Marine Ecology.

The marine environment is the largest portion of the earth’s biosphere
and holds an amazing diversity of microbial, plant and animal life.
This spring-semester course covers the biology of these organisms,
their ecological interactions, their adaptations to the dynamic ocean
environment and their importance to humanity. Topics include
the life histories, behavior, ecology and commercial use of marine
organisms, as well as abiotic factors (e.g., salinity, nutrients, water
currents and tides, ocean floor spreading) that influence them. The
laboratory portion is an end-of-semester (mid-May) 10-day field trip
that focuses on snorkeling studies of coral reef ecosystems and
incurs extra course fees (see instructor for details). This portion
is not available to seniors graduating in May. Prerequisites: Biology
101, 102 or equivalent. Recommended: any of Biology 215, 221, 330
and 380. Also offered through Outdoor Studies.