Laboratory experiences associated with BLY 134.

Lab component for MAS 331.

Lab component for MAS 332.

Marine Geology lab.

Lab component for MAS 431. Must be taken with Lecture.

An introduction to physical, chemical, geological and biological oceanography. Equivalent to BLY 134.

This course will present the basic principles of geological and physical oceanography. Marine science is an interdisciplinary science field in which geology, physics, chemistry and biology interact in complex ways that are fundamental to the oceanic environment. This course will examine the characteristics of oceanic and coastal geomorphology and the associated marine sediments as well as the circulation of water masses that reside in these different regions of the world's oceans. Geological oceanography topics that will be covered include: Structure and evolution of ocean basins, types and properties of marine sediments, sediment transport processes and characterizing coastal regions. Physical oceanography topics that will be covered include: basic physical laws, properties of the water and the ocean, air-sea interactions, general circulation and coastal processes.

Oceanography ("ocean"= the marine environment, and "graphy"= the study of) is literally the study of the marine environment. In practice, oceanography is an interdisciplinary science at the intersection of geology, chemistry, physics and biology. Marine Science II focuses on fundamental concepts in chemical and biological oceanography. The study of chemical oceanography will encompass dissolved components, stratification, chemical tracers, marine pollution, ocean acidification and global warming. This will lead to an introduction to biological oceanography, which will include organismal biology, marine adaptation and fisheries. In-class lectures will provide the students with the foundation to understand the principles discussed and will be supplemented with discussion of the modern ways in which these disciplines are pursued.

Students will conduct collaborative experiments at local field sites. This will involve collecting and analyzing samples, analyzing the subsequent data, and using primary scientific literature to write a short paper and conduct an oral presentation.

Marine Geology explores our ocean basins and coasts, specifically focusing on the dynamic forces that move and shape our ocean basin through the study of marine geology.

The relationship of marine organisms to their environment. (Usually taught in the summer semester.) Equivalent to BLY 367. Requires permission of Department Chair.

This course will provide an introduction to biology of sharks and rays, with special emphasis on regional shark fauna and field techniques. Topics to be covered include chondrichthyan origin, systematics, sensory biology, trophic ecology, reproductive biology, life history, ecology, fisheries and conservation. Lectures will be supplemented with discussions of papers from the primary literature to familiarize students with current research. In addition, longline, trawl and gillnet sampling will provide students with firsthand knowledge of field techniques and local shark identification. Equivalent to BLY 371. Requires permission of Department Chair.

A general survey of marine algae and vascular and non-vascular plants associated with the marine environment. Distribution, identification, structure, ecology, and reproduction will be considered. Course offered only through Marine Environmental Science Consortium, (usually taught in the summer semester). Equivalent to BLY 430. Requires permission of Department Chair.

Provide Marine Science majors with the opportunity to gain a thorough coverage in the many diverse measurements obtained by marine scientists in field/laboratory settings with consideration for the hypotheses, research questions, quality assurance, analysis and data management.

A study of marine vertebrates, with emphasis on fishes; their systematics, zoogeography, and ecology, (usually taught in the summer semester). Equivalent to BLY 451. Requires permission of Department Chair.

A study of natural history, systematics, and morphology or marine invertebrates, (usually taught in the summer semester). Equivalent to BLY 471. Requires permission of Department Chair.

A general introduction to the oceans, with emphasis on chemical, physical, and geological processes and their relation to biological systems. Course offered only through Marine Environmental Science Consortium (DISL). Offered during the summer term.

The relationship of marine organisms to their environment, (usually taught in the summer semester). Equivalent to BLY 475. Requires permission of Department Chair.

This course will provide an introduction to different methods of sensing the ocean, including building and testing simple sensors, use of instruments to collect high resolution data and some background on how technology has led to key advances in marine sciences.

An in-depth tutorial exposure to specific areas in the marine sciences. Credit and title will be arranged to examine the subject matter in the area of current interest to one group of students. Specialized topics not currently listed in catalog course offerings.

Oceanography is an interdisciplinary science at the intersection of geology, chemistry, physics and biology. This course is designed to be a survey course of these four disciplines with special emphasis on the biological aspects of ocean sciences. In-class lectures will provide the students with the foundation to understand the principles discussed, and will be supplemented with discussion of the modern ways in which these disciplines are pursued.

This course will provide an introduction to the analytical methods most commonly used in marine science: spectrometry, fluorometry, colorimetry, gas and liquid chromatography and the use of radio-isotopes. The course will consist of lectures covering the theory of each method and laboratory exercises in their use. Throughout, there will be a focus on the quality of the data being collected, as derived from quantitative assessments of accuracy, precision and repeatability; and propagation of errors. Students will be assessed on problem-sets based on data collected in the labs and on a research project using the instruments and techniques of their choice.

This course will provide an introduction to the scope and application of fluorescence techniques based on excitation of and emission from the ubiquitous plant pigment chlorophyll a. These include fluorometric determination of chlorophyll concentration in vitro; the use of active, single-wavelength fluorometry to assess temporal and spatial variability of chlorophyll a and microalgal biomass in natural assemblages; the use of multiple-wavelength excitation and/or hyperspectral emission to determine taxonomic distributions in vivo; and the use of modulated (pulse-amplitude modulated and fast repetition rate) fluorometry to investigate photosynthetic efficiency and model productivity.

Introduction to the scientific and technical principles of toxicological processes in the context of the ecosystem. Students will understand the types of major environmental toxicants and how to properly evaluate their toxicity and factors that influence toxicity. Students will recognize and coherently formulate risk assessment and by using the tools and techniques acquired, develop and communicate proposals for remediation.

Designed to acquaint graduate students concerned with management of marine resources; development of legislation, evolution of policy, legal processes, impacts on human resources. The emphases will be placed on living resources.

This course will develop student's understanding of conservation biology in marine habitats. Lectures and assigned or student-selected readings will cover the widest possible range of current topics in marine conservation biology. Regular field trips will supplement and exemplify lecture topics. Each class will include an introductory lecture that presents an overview of basic ecological concepts and historical perspective for the assigned readings, followed by discussion. Students will lead discussion of student selected papers and write a topical term paper.

The course will travel to Delaware Bay, home of the largest population of horseshoe crabs in the world. Students will gain and apply information on recent conflicts in horseshoe crab research and fishery management to explore political, ecological, and economic values of marine resources, options for management, conservation, and outreach, conflict resolution and applied ecology.

This course will offer a state-of-the-art review of the nature and extent of anthropogenic impacts on marine coastal ecosystems, including climate change, destruction of wetlands, overfishing and nutrient pollution.

Instruction on the principles of scientific communication and opportunities to practice different forms of written and oral communication common to marine and other sciences. Topics include: 1) the rationale for scientists to communicate effectively, 2) how to identify and share information to different audiences, 3) successful scientific date presentations, 4) writing, editing, publishing, and reviewing abstracts, scientific papers, and proposals, and 5) biases in scientific communication.

Chemical Ecology focuses on chemically medicated interactions within organisms in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. The topics covered include: chemoreception, chemical defense, chemical attraction, and the impact of chemical ecology on humans.

A general survey of the types of microorganisms found in the marine environment. Emphasis will be on the interaction of microorganisms with each other and with their environment. In particular, the role of microorganisms in carbon cycling and biogeochemical processes will be stressed. Readings from current literature will expose students to the latest techniques and research.

This course will cover the acclimative responses of marine microalgae to variability in light, nutrients, temperature and other environmental factors. Stress responses that are engendered when variability in these environmental factors exceeds the organisms' acclimative capacity will also be covered. The course will emphasize the commonality of these processes across taxa as well as considering taxon-specific responses that allow different groups to exploit their niches. Methods such as molecular biology, active fluorescence and remote sensing that can be used to investigate population dynamics and growth over a range of spatial and temporal scales will be covered.

This course will examine the nature and controls of the trophic routes followed by primary production and resulting carbon budgets in coastal ecosystems. Trophic processes in marine ecosystems such as herbivory, consumption by secondary consumers, decomposition, export/import and burial will be studied. The course will also offer a review of anthropogenic impacts, such as eutrophication and climate change, on the trophic rate of primary production and carbon budgets in coastal ecosystems. Students are expected to contribute with personal experimental projects and critical reading and discussion of seminal papers.

The use of molecular biology in ecological studies has been increasing rapidly with the development of new techniques. These techniques can supplement the laboratory and field studies traditionally part of ecology. This course seeks to introduce the use of molecular techniques in marine ecology through lectures accompanied by computer exercises using data from public databases. Lectures will pull data from the primary literature, with emphasis on examples of applications in marine science. Computer exercises will introduce students to how data is analyzed as well as to some of the programs available to carry out this analysis.

Detailed examination of sediment biogeochemical processes and the implications thereof on nutrient cycles, plant production, and animal distribution, including discussion of early diagenesis in coastal sub-tidal and wetland sediment systems. permission of instructor.

The course will examine the interaction between biological, chemical and geological processes in the marine environment. This will be done by first reviewing the cycling of several of the major elements (e.g. carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, and iron) in the sea, and then examining how these cycles differ between various marine ecosystems (e.g. open ocean surface waters, estuaries, coral reefs, seagrass systems and tidal marshes). The focus will be on developing an understanding of how biogeochemical processes serve to regulate ecosystem function in these various habitats. Prerequisites: Organic chemistry, geology, marine ecology.

Students are exposed to a detailed, semi-quantitative introduction to current biological and technological methodologies for studying fishes and aquatic habitats, with emphasis on study design and integration across sub-disciplines.

Ecological and fisheries research has progressed beyond qualitative inference and is continuing to adopt more quantitative methods. A diversity of modeling and experimental approaches exists for ecologists and fisheries scientists. This course is designed to familiarize the students with the most commonly used quantitative approaches. Requires permission of instructor.

Students examine the relationships between fish life history, recruitment dynamics and harvest potential, and local-, meso- and global scale oceanographic processes. Students are exposed to the evolution in thinking on the role of interaction between biology and physics relative to fish and fisheries.

Advances in marine ecology and oceanography are dependent on the ability of researchers to design effective and robust experiments to test hypothesis. Understanding the power, limitations and potential biological and statistical artifacts are critical to achieving this goal. The course focuses on fundamental concepts in the design and analysis of experiments in marine sciences, ecology and fisheries. Primary emphasis will be placed on design and interpretation and secondarily on techniques for analyses. Various analysis of variance models will be introduced beginning with completely randomized designs and factorial treatment structures, and proceeding through block and split-plot designs. In-class demonstrations and take-home problems will provide students with experience in performing many of these analyses.

This course will examine large scale, spatial and temporal variability in the Earth/ocean system as evidenced by present-day and paleo records. Variability such as the El Nino Southern Oscillation will be covered. It will critically evaluate the evidence for and the consequences of modern global change as it pertains to the marine environment. Emphasis will be placed on potential changes in climate, biogeochemical cycles, hydrologic cycles, eutrophication/species diversity, and UV light fluxes. Prerequisites: Permission of instructor.

To present an introduction to the importance of small scale fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and solid mechanics to marine science and to present techniques for measurement of important parameters.

This course will address physical processes in estuarine environments. With physical processes in estuaries occurring in various time scales, discussion will proceed in terms of three different time scales: turbulent, tidal, and residual time scales. Emphasis will be placed on mass transport by physical transport processes (water movement).

This course provides a survey of the physics, chemistry, biology, geology and meteorology of the continental margins and deep ocean regions in the Gulf of Mexico and adjacent waters. Requires permission of instructor.

An introduction to the principles, tools, and applications of marine ecosystem modelling. Emphasis will be placed on biological and physical coupling and numerical representations of these processes. Students will develop facility with numerical tools and learn how to apply coupled models to their ecosystems of interest.

The course covers general ecological principles and how they apply to marine ecosystems. Both open ocean and nearshore waters are considered. Specific topics covered include: adaptations of marine organisms for life in the intertidal vs. subtitle zones; different modes of feeding and reproduction in marine organisms; and the importance of predation, competition, adult/larval interactions and dispersal mechanisms. The second half of the course is devoted to discussion of specific habitats including: coral reefs, mangrove swamps, kelp forests, and hydrothermal vents.

This course covers the evolutionary history and the ecology of marine benthic communities from the earliest fossils to present. The importance of scale and of proper design will considered. Other topics include: predation, competition, adult/larval interactions and dispersal mechanisms. There will be discussion of productivity and materials cycling in benthic systems. Special topics of students' suggestions conclude the course.

The coastal ocean has a physical regime that is distinct from that of the open ocean. This physical regime contributes to disproportionally high levels of ecological productivity associated with these areas. Because of the often close coupling of physical and biogeochemical processes in the costal ocean, the solutions to the problem facing these ecosystems typically require interdisciplinary perspectives. The objective of the course is to introduce the main physical processes and fisheries in the coastal ocean. The course will provide an overview of the physics operating in the coastal ocean and link the physical forcings to biogeochemical processes and ecosystem function. The course will cover topics from shelf break-open ocean interactions to the fundamental processes operation in estuarine environments. The end goal is for graduate students to acquire a fundamental understanding of the physical mechanisms driving the circulation and the associated hydrographic properties in the coastal ocean and how those physical phenomena link to biogeochemical processes.

Coastal Ecosystem Dynamics will allow students to investigate the basic principles of ecosystem structure and function. The course is divided into 2 parts: an instructional phase for learning basics of ecosystem modeling, and a student-led investigation of the structure and function of a variety of coastal ecosystems. This approach will give the student a set of quantitative tools for modeling ecosystems. Also, students will learn to evaluate differences and similarities of energy and nutrient processing in disparate ecosystems. There will be one 2 hr class meeting each week during which students will learn to use the ecological modeling software packages 'Ecopath' and 'Ecoism'. During the initial period, students will 'dissect' published models (obtained from the Internet) as a mechanism to understand the utility of ecosystem modeling as well as the basics of this particular software. The second half of the course will be devoted to student-constructed ecosystem models. The models will be constructed from data and pathway descriptions in Alongi's 'Coastal Ecosystem Processes' (CRC Press). A synthesis of these models will be constructed and placed on the WWW.

This graduate level course will give students a broad overview of the time course of evolutionary changes in the structure and function of marine ecosystems, and will consider the interacting roles of both historical and current factors as they influence the distribution and abundance of marine organisms. Lectures will be mixed with discussions of assigned readings from the primary literature to stimulate critical thinking about the various topics.

This course will build on the foundations provided by introductory ecology courses to enhance understanding of the mechanisms that control the distribution and abundance of marine plants and animals. The class periods will be dominated by discussions of assigned readings from the primary literature, which will be complemented by summary lecture material.

An in depth treatment of the taxonomy, nutrition, dispersal, bio-energetics, behavior, and bio-physical coupling of larval forms of marine species.

The Field Marine Science course will consist of an 11 day field exercise in representative coastal sites in Maine with emphasis on rocky intertidal, kelp bed and eelgrass habitats. Two faculty members will accompany the students, participate in the pre-trip readings and evaluate the product developed by each student.

This course provides students with practical skills involved in oceanographic research. Skills may include hydrographic, hydroacoustic, and organismic sampling, gear deployment and use of analytical instrumentation at sea. Students participate in one or more oceanographic cruises during a semester and carry out a defined project using research tools available on the ship. A final report on the project forms the major part of the course grade. Cruises are available only on an ad hoc basis so permission of the instructor is required.

This course familiarizes the student with the taxonomic breadth of estuarine and marine zooplankton ranging from protistans through all major phyla of metazoa. Though the focus of the course is on taxonomic familiarization, basic biology (including reproduction and feeding) of all major taxa represented in the plankton will be covered. Students will also learn basic and advanced field collection, laboratory and statistical techniques. Although not a prerequisite, it is useful for students to have a background in invertebrate zoology.

The course examines factors in the evolution current U.S. and International marine and coastal policy related to the management of natural resources. Course includes policy components, policy information implementation, change processes and economic criteria for evaluating policy effectiveness. The course also surveys the basic approaches to economic valuation of marine resources.

A survey of current literature on topics related to the ecology of seagrass ecosystems. Students will read assigned papers to be analyzed in faculty lead discussion format. A final research paper will be prepared by each student.

The Field Marine Science course will consist of an 8 - 12 day field exercise in representative coastal sites. Faculty members with diverse interests will accompany the students, participate in pre-trip discussions and evaluate the product developed by each student. The course is designed to familiarize students with habitats and research conditions on the Northern Gulf Coast. Field trip locations are selected on the basis of faculty and student interest, economics, and availability of logistic support. Students pay their room and board costs for the field exercise. The course is primarily for graduate students, but advanced undergraduates may enroll with consent of instructor. Both MAS 588 and MAS 583 may be taken for credit when each is taught in a different environment.

The course familiarizes the student with the taxonomic breadth of phytoplankton, bacterioplankton and zooplankton in estuaries, coastal seas and open oceans. Though the focus of the course is on taxonomic familiarization, basic biology (including reproduction and feeding) of all major taxa represented in the plankton will be covered. Student will learn fundamental, as well as "cutting-edge", field laboratory and statistical techniques. Two hours of lectures each week will be accompanied by two hours of hand-on laboratory work. Prerequisites: Graduate status in one of the physical or biological sciences.

An in-depth tutorial exposure to specific areas in the marine sciences. Credit and title will be arranged to examine the subject matter in an area of current interest to one or group of students. Specialized topics not currently listed in catalog course offerings. MAS 590 is available to master students - MAS 690 is available to Ph.D. students.

Students and faculty meet weekly in an interactive discussion of current literature in marine sciences. The focus will be on "state-of-the-art" theories and methodologies as they occur in the primary marine literature. Student presentation is required to receive credit.

Independent research, not related to the thesis, under the direction of a member of the graduate faculty. May be used to learn new techniques or explore research questions of special interest. A maximum of 4 hours may be earned for this course toward the MS degree.

Independent research by the student under the sponsorship of a member of the department. Progress reports of the work accomplished are required every six months.

Physical properties and circulation of the worlds oceans. Topics to be covered include: basic physical laws; properties of heat, water, and salt budgets; waves; tides; large and small scale circulations; sea-level fluctuations; interactions of the sea with the atmosphere and land masses; light and acoustics.

An in-depth examination of the chemistry of sea water and its relationship with biological, geological, and physical processes in the oceans. Coverage of sea water composition, buffering capacity, redox potential, and photochemistry will form the basis for an in-depth analysis of dynamic equilibria of gases, organic materials, nutrients, and trace elements in the sea. Critical evaluation of recent primary literature in chemical oceanography will be used to illustrate state-of-the art research approaches.

Geological Oceanography encompasses the historic and current consequences of both geophysical and classical geological processes. Included topics are tectonic theory and its development, sedimentary processes in coastal and oceanic provinces, stratigraphy, structural geology, micropaleontology, erosion, diagenesis and the formation of hydrocarbons.

A comprehensive survey of marine organisms and their interaction including pelagic and benthic communities of the oceans, coastal waters and estuaries. Primary formation of particulate material, feeding processes, kinetics of food webs, biogeochemical processes, patterns of distribution, ecology of biotic systems, human interactions and current concerns are topics to be covered.

An in-depth tutorial exposure to specific areas in the marine sciences. Credit and title will be arranged to examine the matter in an area of current interest to one or group of students. Specialized topics not currently listed in catalog course offerings. MAS 590 is available to master students - MAS 690 is available to Ph.D. students.

Students and faculty meet weekly in an interactive discussion of current literature in marine sciences. The focus will be on "state-of-the-art" theories and methodologies as they occur in the primary marine literature. Student presentation is required to receive credit.

Independent research, not related to the dissertation, under the direction of a member of the graduate faculty. May be used to learn new techniques or explore research questions of special interest. A maximum of 4 hours may be earned for this course toward a Ph.D. degree.

Independent research by the student under the sponsorship of a member of the department.