MARINE BIOLOGY

BIOLOGY 313, Spring 2007

 

Dr. Kari Benson

Office:  218 Hobbs Hall, Phone: 544-8364

Email: benson@lynchburg.edu

Course Description

Three hours lecture and three hours laboratory.  This introduction to the marine environment emphasizes the occurrence and distribution of marine organisms.  Oceanographic principles are discussed, and special consideration is given to the biology of common plants inhabiting beaches, estuaries, and near-ocean waters in Atlantic, Caribbean, and Bahamian biota.  The laboratory is conducted at a selected site on the ocean and in the estuary.  An additional cost will be incurred for the two field trips.

 

Course Objectives

 

  • Students will be able to explain the biotic and abiotic constraints on organisms in marine ecosystems. 
  • Students will be able to describe the major marine ecosystems and marine organisms. 
  • Students will be able to identify organisms from the Eastern Shore of Virginia from a trip to the marine science museum and a field trip to the coast.

 

This course supports goals 1(a), 2(a), and 4(b) of the biology program.

Materials:

 

Levinton, J. S. 2001. Marine Biology: Function, Biodiversity, Ecology. Oxford University Press, NY

 

There will be additional readings for the class from the primary literature and popular media.

 

Scheduled Class Times

 

Lecture: The class meets on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9:00 until 9:50 in Hobbs 406.  The lecture material will explore the text and the outside readings.  Students are required to come to class having read the assigned material.

Laboratory: Laboratory meets at 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Mondays in Hobbs 221. Laboratory meetings will be confined to two field trips, one video, and three in-class presentations (six meetings altogether).  The field trips are as follows:

·        NOTE: We will collect a $25.00 fee that will defray some of the travel costs involved in this course.

·        Virginia Marine Science Museum and Old Dominion University, scheduled for 16 March.  We will be traveling from 6:00 am until late in the night.

·         Wachapreague Field Station, scheduled for 12-15 April.  Students will be responsible for providing and paying for food during this trip.  Food costs will be minimized by preparing food on-site.  Lynchburg College will pay your dormitory, boat, and transportation fees.  The weather this time of year is highly variable, but as we will be staying in a dormitory – we will travel regardless of conditions.  Please dress accordingly.  We will conduct field samplings in the natural habitats.  A field notebook detailing the work from this trip is required.  Alternative arrangements for assignments will be made available for students with special needs.  If you will require special dispensation, you must make arrangements during the first two weeks of class.

Attendance in this course is crucial.  Absences may be excused with prior notice of an acute illness, a family emergency, or a college sponsored event.  Documentation from a physician or a college representative is required for an excused absence.

Class Web Page

http://benson-k.web.lynchburg.edu/oceans/oceans.html

The course web page will include news, assignments, and outlines of class presentations.

Office hours

I have three, scheduled office hours weekly (Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.). You are welcome to stop by during these hours if you have any questions or problems with the course materials.  If you feel as though you would benefit from an opportunity to review some material or ask questions individually, please take advantage of this time.  Typically, however, I am available in my office during the regular workweek.  If my scheduled hours are not convenient, I would be happy to schedule time with students during other times.  I am available by phone in my office or by email to schedule appointments.

Grading

Your final grade will be determined as follows:

Item:                                                                  Percentage

Three Tests                                                                  30

Final Exam                                                                   20

? Challenges and Quizzes                                              10

Individual Paper                                                            10

Two Presentations                                                        12

Final  Presentation                                                          8

Class Participation                                                          5

Field participation/organismsID/notes                              5

Total                                                                            100

 

Tests: There will be three midterm exams, 14 February, 23 March, and 20 April.   The laboratory portion of this course is meant to augment the lecture and questions expanding on topics covered in the laboratory may appear on exams. Each exam will cover material since the previous exam.

Final Exam: The final exam is cumulative and will account for 20% of the final grade.  Remember that any missing test scores will be replaced with the grade from this final.  The final exam will be held at 9:00 a.m. on 4 May.

Challenges and Quizzes: Quizzes will be given periodically to cover the latest readings or material in the class.  They will be concise and designed to insure that you understand the key concepts under consideration.  Quizzes will be unannounced. If the subject matter does not lend itself to a quiz, a challenge (homework assignment) will take the place of a quiz. The lowest two of the quiz and challenge grades will be dropped for the final quiz/challenge average. 

Paper: One literature research paper will be required.  Each individual will prepare a review paper on a marine environmental topic that they discuss in their individual presentation.  This paper must include at least five references from the primary literature and at least 15 references altogether (only five of which may web references, more web references may be used in excess of the required 15).  Suitable presentation topics may include: overfishing, fishing down the food chain, bycatch, toxic substances (specific choices may include petroleum products, PCBs, etc.), eutrophication, global warming, or modification of sea structure (wetlands, dredging, etc.).  We will use turnitin.com for an early draft of this paper.

Presentations: You will select topics and have them approved at least three weeks prior to the presentation.  Each presentation will be between ten and 15 minutes long and you will provide an outline electronically for class members at least five days prior to the presentation to the instructor.

The first presentation (12 February, topic by 29 January) will emphasize a specific marine habitat.  This talk should cover the primary constraints on organisms in the chosen habitat, a survey of the typical organisms for the habitat, and some of the environmental and ecological aspects of the habitat.  This should include reference to at least two (preferably three) recent publications (in the primary literature) on the topic.  Some examples of suitable topics include: coral reefs, the benthic zone, deep oceanic vents, the abyssal zone, sea grass beds, rocky intertidal zones, sandy intertidal zones, etc.

The second presentation (26 March, topic by 26 February) will emphasize a particular aspect of the estuarine habitat.  Topics such as the benthic community, wetlands habitats, economic importance, salinity adaptations, or others are acceptable.  This presentation must be based on at least three articles from the primary literature.

The third presentation (23 April, topic by 2 April) will focus on some marine environmental issue.  Again, each student must provide the instructor with an electronic version of the outline at least five days prior to the presentation.  However, this presentation will also be accompanied by a research paper (see more information above). Each student must select a topic related to some marine environmental issue at least five weeks prior to the presentation.

Class Participation: This grade will be determined by the level of thoughtful participation including: contributions to class discussions, class group exercises, laboratory exercises, and independent learning.  Participation in the laboratory also includes clean-up of the classroom, carrying and cleaning field gear, and any class equipment.  Class participation will account for 5% of the final course grade.

Laboratory: The laboratory notebook will be evaluated as other scientific documentation.  This must accurately reflect all of our field sampling and the subsequent lab identification of organisms. Grading on this portion of the course is also dependent on student participation and cooperation on field trips, which includes packing gear, maintaining gear, identifying organisms in field and lab and remaining a cheerful, active participant - even in adverse conditions.

Grading Policy: Students are expected to hand in work on time.  For each day (including Saturday and Sunday) that an assignment is late, 5% of the grade will be deducted from the score.  Assignments that are more than one week late will not be accepted.  If you wish to hand in a late assignment, either hand-deliver the assignment to your instructor or place the assignment into the appropriate mailbox in Hobbs Hall.  I will not be responsible for lost items that were not handed in at the appropriate time.

Re-evaluation: If you find that you disagree with the grading on any particular question, I will re-evaluate your work.  I will only accept re-evaluation requests in written form, be sure to include your name, the question number, explain why you should have received credit that you did not, and how much additional credit you feel you deserve.  Be sure to attach this form to your original work.  For bookkeeping purposes, all re-evaluation requests must be submitted within 2 days of the return of the work.

Ethical Conduct:

 

Honor Code: I encourage a free exchange of ideas both in and out of the classroom.  Science is a collaborative endeavor.  However, when a scientist gets help from another scientist, they are expected to acknowledge or reference them fully. A description of what constitutes an honor code violation is available on page 218 of the catalogue and in the student handbook.  If you are unsure about how to attribute another individual for intellectual contribution to your work, please see Dr. Benson prior to the deadline of the assignment.  Failure to adhere to these rules can result in failure in the course.

Respect:  I would like everyone in the class to feel free to express their ideas and opinions. We encourage intellectual controversy and debate in the course, and, thus, demand that everyone's right to different thoughts and opinions be respected, even as we challenge the ideas underlying those opinions.   Treating one another with respect includes arriving in class on time and not distracting fellow students during any course-related activities.

 

 

Tentative Schedule:

 

Week                                       Text Coverage              Presentations/ Field Trips

1                                              Introduction, 1, 2

2                                              2 and 3                        

3                                              3                                  Habitat Presentation Topic Due

4                                              3, 4,                

5                                              4, 5 test 1                     Habitat Presentation

6                                              5, 6, 7                         

7                                              7, 8                             Estuary Presentation Topic Due

8                                              9,                                 Virginia Aquarium Tri 16 March

9                                              10,11, test 2    

10                                            11, 12, 13                    Estuary Presentation

11                                            14                                Environmental Presentation Topic

12                                            15, 16                          video in lab, 12-15 April - Wachapreague

13                                            17, test 3                     

14                                            18, 19                          Environmental Issue Presentation

15                                            finish material, review

                                                FINAL EXAM

 

Grading Structure:

 

Number Grade

Letter Grade

97-100

A+

93-96

A

90-92

A-

87-89

B+

83-86

B

80-82

B-

77-79

C+

73-76

C

70-72

C-

67-69

D+

63-66

D

60-62

D-

<60

F