Marine Science - MRS (55)
Administered by Department of Biological and Allied Health Sciences and Department of Geography and Earth Science
Effective Fall, 2004
Marine Science Courses are offered during the summer at the Marine Science Center in Wallops Island, Virginia. Bloomsburg University and other institutions are members of the consortium that operates the center. Courses are offered which satisfy requirements for biology majors, for earth science majors and for general education. Specific courses satisfy requirements for the Marine Biology Option in Biology. Other courses provide earth science majors experiences which are not available on the main campus. For more information, contact the Marine Science coordinators in the Departments of Biological and Allied Health Sciences and Geography and Earth Sciences.
55.110 Introduction to Oceanography (3) - An introduction to the marine sciences with an emphasis on physiography of ocean basins, wave motion, tides, current circulation patterns, near-shore processes, physical and chemical nature of sea-water and methods of investigation. Three hours of lecture per week.
55.211 Field Methods in Oceanography (3) - Familiarizes students with the dynamic marine environment and with work on board a research vessel. Introduces the use and application of standard oceanographic instruments and sampling devices. Independent research is promoted and encouraged. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: 51.259 or 55.110.
55.221 Marine Invertebrates (3) - A study of the life, history, habits origin, development, physiology, anatomy and taxonomy of the main phyla of invertebrates. A phylogenetic sequence is followed to show interrelationships among the phyla. Special emphasis is given to the Atlantic marine invertebrates. Laboratory and field work deal with collection, preservation and identification of local species. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: 50.110, 50.120 or consent of the instructor.
55.241 Marine Biology (3) - A study of plant and animal life in the marine environment. Emphasis on physical and chemical environmental factors affecting the biota in the intertidal, open water and benthic habitats. Common biota characteristics of each habitat will be investigated in terms of their natural history, morphology and ecological relationships. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: 50.110, 50.120 or consent of the instructor.
55.250 Wetlands Ecology (3) - Biological, chemical and geological characteristics of coastal wetlands. Considers the structure and function of wetlands, human impacts on wetlands and approaches for wetland management and restoration. Laboratory consists of field exercises in the study of wetlands. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: 50.110, 50.120.
55.260 Marine Ecology (3) - Interrelationships among animals, plants and physical and chemical aspects of the environment studied, with stress on adaptations for survival that are unique to the marine environment. Three hours of lecture per week.
55.270 SCUBA Diving (3) - Basic SCUBA diving coupled with advanced techniques. Leads to open-water certification. Prerequisite: Swimming Proficiency and physicians certification of fitness for SCUBA are required.
55.300 Behavior of Marine Organisms (3) - Concepts of ethology; discussion and observation of the influence of external and internal factors on the regulation; and control of behavior of organisms living in the marine coastal environment. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: 50.110.
55.320 Marine Microbiology (3) - A survey of methods and concepts of marine microbiology. Focus on the technical aspects of sample collection, microbial ecology of the marine environment, enrichment culturing and methods of enumeration and identification with emphasis on marine bacteria. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: 50.110, 50.120.
55.330 Tropical Invertebrates (3) - Introduction to tropical invertebrates, using a variety of collection and observation methods to sample nearshore and reef areas. Emphasis on systematics and ecology using the communities approach. One week at Wallops Island, Va., for intensive review of general systematics and ecology of marine invertebrates; then two weeks in Florida sampling and identifying species and describing ecological communities. Course is a sequel to marine invertebrates or a landlocked invertebrate zoology course or a thorough landlocked zoology course. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisites: 55.221 or 50.211.
55.331 Chemical Oceanography (3) - A field-based study of ocean, bay and estuarine environmental chemistry. Develops and awareness of the relationships between chemical, geological and biological environments. Investigates the chemical compositions of waters and substrata and biogeochemical processes and cycles. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: 52.215.
55.342 Marine Botany (3) - Taxonomy, physiology, ecology and economic importance of marine and coastal plants as exemplified by those found on the Delmarva Peninsula. Laboratory techniques include collecting, preserving, identifying and analyzing plants and plant materials, appropriate instrumentation to be used. Emphasis on in-the-field studies and laboratory analyses. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: 50.110, 50.120.
55.343 Marine Ichthyology (3) - A study of the internal and external structure of fishes, their systematic and ecological relationships and their distribution in time and space. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: 50.110, 50.120.
55.345 Ornithology (3) - Introduces avian fauna of the sea coast and enables comparison with inland species. Field work provides visual and vocal identification; lecture material includes information on distribution, behavior, physiology and anatomy of birds. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: 50.110, 50.120.
55.362 Marine Geology (3) - Structure and sedimentology of ocean basins and shores. Presents methods of geological exploration in the marine environment, features of ocean basins and theories of ocean basin evolution. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: 51.101, 51.102, 51.111, 51.112 and 51.259 or 55.110.
55.364 Physical Oceanography (3) - A study of the physical properties of the oceans including: mass and energy budgets; theory of the distribution of variables; cause, nature, measurement, analysis and prediction of tides, currents and waves; and basic instrumentation in field work. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: 51.259 or 55.110 or 53.125 and 54.112 or permission of instructor.
55.394 Comparative Physiology of Marine Organisms (3) - This course will provide an introduction to the physiology of marine organisms utilizing a comparative approach. The lecture will introduce the topics of respiration, circulation, metabolism, osmoregulation, thermoregulation, locomotion and sensory systems by drawing comparisons between the mechanisms and strategies utilized by a wide range of marine organisms. Laboratory and field work will focus on the physiological responses of marine plants and animals to common environmental stresses such as salt load, temperature variation, depletion of dissolved oxygen and tidal flux. This will be accomplished through measurements and observations in the field, as well as through experimental manipulations in a laboratory setting. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: 50.110, 52.115, 52.131, 55.241 or permission of instructor.
55.430 Coastal Sedimentation (3) - A study of depositional environments of marine dominated shorelines, sediments, sedimentation processes, sedimentary facies, models of rock record growth, barrier island dynamics and development of tidal deltas. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: 51.101, 51.102, 51.111, 51.112 or permission of instructor.
55.431 Ecology of Marine Plankton (3) - Studies phytoplankton and zooplankton in marine and brackish environments. Qualitative and quantitative comparisons made between the plankton populations of various types of habitats in relation to primary and secondary productivity. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisites: 50.110, 50.120.
55.432 Marine Evolutionary Ecology (3) - The study of the ecological mechanisms underlying evolutionary processes. This course is broad in scope and requires that students synthesize both evolutionary and ecological concepts and theory into an understanding of how organisms adapt to their environment. Marine, estuarine and maritime organisms are used as model systems and processes which affect marine populations are emphasized. Three hours of lecture per week.
55.441 Biology of Molluscs (3) - An evolutionary, functional and ecologic approach to studying the second largest group of animals and perhaps the most diverse in terms of morphological, ecological and behavioral variations. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisites: 50.110, 50.211 recommended.
55.459 Coastal Geomorphology (3) - Study of coastal geomorphology with an emphasis on Late Cenozoic and Pleistocene sea and lake-level changes in response to world-wide glaciation. Students participate in field studies of Pleistocene deposits and the weathering and erosion of these deposits. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: 51.101, 51.102, 51.111, 51.112.
55.464 Biological Oceanography (3) - Interdisciplinary study of the interactions between biological communities and the ocean environment as seen by distributions of coastal plankton, fish and benthic invertebrates. Projects involve boat trips to sample populations and to quantitatively document environmental variables with state-of-the-art equipment, laboratory and field experiments to determine rate processes and visits to nearby field and government laboratories. Examples of project topics include transport of plankton at barrier island passes, effect of submarine banks on fish populations, ground truth data for satellite imagery and other current topics in biological oceanography. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: 50.110, 50.120, 50.242. Recommended: 51.259 or 55.110.
55.470 Research Diver Methods (3) - Study and practice of aquatic research methods using SCUBA as a tool. Advanced research diving topics include areas such as navigation, search and recovery, underwater photography, survey methods, estimating population parameters and data acquisition while under water. Specific research techniques will be presented in the context of specific aquatic research projects conducted by students under the direction of the instructor. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: 50.110 and Basic SCUBA Certification (NAUI, PADI, SSI).
55.490 Marine Aquaculture (3) - This course includes the theory and practice of raising organisms for food and for the aquarium trade. Techniques of raising economically important organisms from the egg stage to marketable size and their food supplies are studied. Three hours of lecture per week.
55.491 Coral Reef Ecology (3) - A study of coral reef structure, formation, types and the relationships of reef organisms to their environment. Emphasis is given to species diversity, identification, symbiosis and effects of temperature, salinity, light, nutrient concentration, predation and competition on the abundance and the distribution of coral reef organisms. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: 50.110, 50.120 and SCUBA and/or snorkeling experience.
55.492 Marine Mammals (3) - A study of the distribution, population ecology, behavior, physiology and adpatations of marine mammals. Student projects entail collecting physiological and behavioral data at field sites and at facilities studying marine mammals. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: 50.110, 50.120, 50.212 or 50.361 recommended; preferences given to undergraduate senior students in registering.
55.500 Problems in Marine Science (3) - Graduate students may pursue one of the following options: Option A - Enroll in 200, 300, or 400 level course offered at the Marine Science Center in which they desire advanced work and complete, in addition to the regular course requirements, an approved project in the area under the direction of the instructor. Written permission from the instructor is required. OR - Option B - Enroll in an Independent Research Project. To be admitted, a student must submit a research proposal to the academic committee of the Marine Science Consortium. The proposal must include the scope and duration of the proposed research, equipment and facilities required, and a recommendation and approval from the student's academic adviser. Requires written permission for graduate credit acceptability from the chairperson of the graduate committee of the Department of Biological and Allied Health Sciences before registering. Copies of this approval and the instructor's permission must be forwarded to the vice president for research of the Marine Science Center before the student arrives on station to take the course. Three hours of lecture per week.
55.540 Environmental Science Education (3) - Field-oriented approach to environmental education with special emphasis upon coastal zones. Students relate their own disciplines to education for quality environments. Consideration will be given to sources, facilities, methods, techniques, and concepts used in environmental education. Three hours of lecture per week.
55.541 Biology of Mollusca (3) - The Mollusca is the second largest group of animals and perhaps the most diverse in terms of morphological, ecological and behavioral variations. This course offers an evolutionary, functional and ecological approach to studying this important group of organisms. Three hours of lecture per week.
55.570 Research Cruise - Biology (3) - A three-week session involving planning and preparations for an oceanographic research cruise of approximately eight days, actual execution of the cruise plan on board an ocean research vessel. Introduces data-processing techniques and instrumentation used by biological oceanographers. Prerequisite: 55.241 or its equivalent, or permission of the instructor.
55.593 Behavioral Ecology (3) - Designed to present animal behavior within an ecological and evolutionary context. Presents mathematical and theoretical framework of behavioral ecology. An in-depth exploration of the ways in which the behavior of animals is influenced by the environment, especially with regard to resource distribution. Three hours of lecture per week.