Field Marine Biology (ZOO 320)
Course Description
Provides a hands-on, research-driven experience within a marine environment, centering on exposure to 1) the diverse organisms and ecological interactions of coastal marine habitats 2) conservation issues relevant in these habitats 3) the research process from formulating interesting biological questions to conducting scientific research. Features immersion in a variety of marine habitats along with presentations by experts on marine conservation issues.
Course Learning Outcomes
- Be able to describe how habitat structures communities of marine fishes and invertebrates.
- Identify common marine fish and invertebrate species and their adaptations to the unique challenges of feeding, predator avoidance, and reproduction in the marine environment.
- Describe threats to marine biodiversity and strategies used to mitigate these threats.
- Formulate testable scientific hypotheses/questions.
- Develop and execute a data collection plan for investigating the hypotheses/questions.
- Communicate research findings verbally and in writing, including using data and figures.
Ecology of Fishes (ZOO 510)
Course Description
An overview of interactions of fishes with their physical, chemical, and biotic environment, their behavioral, physiological, and community ecology, their interactions with other fishes and organisms, including people, and ichthyological and fisheries science.
Course Learning Outcomes
At the end of the class, students will be able to:
- use facts to guide conceptual thinking and hypothesis testing about ecological systems
- use fish evolution, ecology, and conservation to produce an integrated perspective of fish biology
- summarize the diversity of fishes on Earth, including phylogenetic and geographic patterns
- analyze the relationship between form and function of individual fish and species
- place fishes in the context of the broader food web and ecological community
- describe the management and use of fishes by human society
- describe the conservation challenges faced by fishes now and in the future
- write clear, concise, and accurate scientific reports and make informative oral presentations
Problems in Oceanography (ZOO 750)
Course Description
The course is listed under the name “Problems in Oceanography,” and while we have our share of problems, we don’t focus on Oceanography. Instead, the course is all about designing and conducting a field ecology research project on Sapelo Island, GA during a 10-day trip in mid-late October; offered fall semester in even years. Projects can focus on any of the terrestrial, salt marsh, or estuarine habitats on the Island. Check out a short video compilation of the projects from last year. This course is offered every other year (but we are getting back in sync after a Covid hiatus).
The class is meant to serve as an introduction to the entire process of field research in ecology and perhaps a chance to get a whole dissertation’s worth of research mistakes out of the way in one semester. It’s also a great chance to bond with your cohort of fellow grad students. It is ideal for first or second year grad students focusing on ecological questions for thesis and dissertation projects.
Some of the Sapelo projects crash and burn, others get published, and most are somewhere in the middle. All of these are acceptable outcomes and the process is just as important as the outcome. It is a great, hands-on course, with a low student-faculty ratio (we cap the course ~10-12 students). Read previous Sapelo Island papers here. Before and after the Sapelo trip, we meet once per week on Wednesday evenings.