SMS 206 - Marine Biology and Ecology

An introduction to the biology of organisms in a variety of marine ecosystems, including plankton, rocky intertidal, soft-bottom intertidal, marsh, coral reef and deep sea communities. The biology and ecology of selected species in each ecosystem are discussed, including life cycles of several local seaweeds and phytoplankton. The course incorporates an introduction to scientific literature and writing a research paper. Field trips to local marine environments are used to develop advanced identification skills, an introduction to experimental design, and preliminary statistical analysis of data. This course includes a service learning component that may vary from year-to-year. Lecture 2 hours, laboratory 4 hours.

Core Curriculum/Core Requirements: Service Learning

Prerequisites: BIO 117, BIO 118, BIO 119 and SMS 103, or permission of instructor or equivalent courses (BIO 117 is equivalent to BIO 100 and BIO 118 and BIO 119 is equivalent to BIO 200)

Course Typically Offered: Every Fall

Credits: 4