Marine Ecology
| Science Course | |
|---|---|
| Course Code | MARE |
| Year Opened | 1996 |
| Sites Offered | BRI, LOS |
| Previously Offered | CHS, CLA, SRF |
Course Description
From the CTY Course Catalog (2023):
Ninety-four percent of life on earth is aquatic, yet we have only explored 5 percent of Earth’s oceans. Marine ecologists aim to reduce this knowledge gap while using biology, chemistry, physics, geology, geography, and meteorology to study oceans and the hundreds of thousands of known species that live below their surface.
In this field science course, you will learn the geography of ocean floors, and the physical and chemical properties of ocean water; visit local habitats to collect and test water samples and examine microscopic organisms; and explore how the slightest changes in salinity and temperature can impact entire species. You and your classmates will conduct field observations and dissections in the lab, and observe and analyze plants and animals and the adaptations that allow them to live underwater. Field experiences may include an aquarium trip, visits from marine life experts, or a boat excursion in local waters. The course ends with an analysis of human impact and how to protect marine ecosystems now and in the future.
