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.