Biology 423G:
Marine Environments Winter 2008
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Brief Course Description:
We will investigate the marine world at several levels of organization, from the broad perspective of oceanography to the specific characteristics of key organisms. Marine environments are among our most treasured natural “gems”, and we will look at several of these, including coral reefs, polar seas, estuaries, salt marshes, rocky shores, and deep seas. We will also examine the creatures that live in these unique and rich environments.
The course is composed of three sections. First, there will be a lecture component covering basic oceanography. Second, there will be a series of seminars and discussions delivered and lead by students. Seminars presentations will each focus on a specific marine environment or group of marine organisms (see tentative lecture schedule below). Third, several outstanding researchers here at UWO have agree to give guest lectures on their area of expertise: Dr. C. Trick: Open ocean ecosystems; Ben Beall: Microorganisms and productivity; Dr. B. Fenton: The use of biosonar in marine mammals; Dr. J. Staples: Physiology of a diving animal, the Nautilus; Julie Collens: Reproduction in kelps.
