Dr. Brian Silliman, Pilkey

MARINE ECOLOGY

Fall 2015 DUML

Office Hours: 10:00-11:30 Tuesdays

email:

Home Page:

Lectures: Tuesday & Thursday; 8:30-10:00

Laboratory: Wednesday 1-4pm

Thursday 1-4pm

TAs:Joe Morton

Stacy Zhang

Required Lecture Text: M. Bertness, J. Bruno, B. R. Silliman, and J. Stachowicz. Marine Community Ecology and Conservation.

Course Overview: This class is an introduction to the academic discipline of marine ecology. Over the course of the semester, we will discuss the major subdisciplines of marine ecology, their theoretical foundations, and the ecology of the world’s dominant marine ecosystems. We will conclude by focusing on threats and conservation in coastal ecosystems.

Course Objectives:

1. Teach students through hands-on learning, intensive field experiments, and lectures the importance of Creativity, Motivation, Patience, Persistence, and Observation in Science and Marine Ecology.

2. Provide students field experience at the beginning of their education.

3. Empower students to do science and think independently over a short period.

4. Teach students to be synthesizers and critical thinkers.

5. Teach students to do science from the beginning to the end.

7. Teach students to convey effectively their scientific thoughts and analyses

in writing and oral presentations.

8. Empower students how to do Science and Ecology based on original observations in nature.

9. Gain a broad understanding of the ecology and natural history of marine organisms and environment and the processes that structure them.

10. Empower students to complete basic quantitative analyses of empirical data.

11. Gain understanding of the major theories underlying community structure and function.

2014 LECTURESCHEDULE
Date / TOPIC
8/25 / T / Overview & Intro to Ecology and Science
8/27 / Th / Salt Marshes
Lab: Marine Inverts - Docks
Reading: MCEC 1, 11
9/1 / T / Disease – Guest Lecture Joe Morton
9/3 / Th / Seagrasses - Guest Lecture Stacy Zhang
Lab: Salt Marshes – Pivers (4:46 Low)
Reading: MCEC 5, 12
9/8 / T / Predation
9/10 / Th / Fish Ecology
Lab: Fish – Trawl UNC Capricorn
Optional Reading: P. Morin Community Ecology 4
9/15 / T / Disturbances
9/17 / Th / Oyster Reefs
Lab:Oysters & Seagrass – Mid. Marsh (Low 5:18 pm)
Reading: MCEC 10
9/22 / T / Competition
9/24 / Th / Positive Species Interactions,
Lab: Project Introductions,Sandy Beaches –Shackleford
Reading: MCEC 3
9/29 / T / Physical Forcing,
10/1 / Th / Recruitment; Review Questions
Lab: Ind. Proj. Selection; Field Methods Pivers/Smith
Reading: MCEC 2, 4
10/6 / T / Review
10/8 / Th / Exam 1
Lab: Independent Projects
10/13 / T / Fall Break
10/15 / Th / Fall Break
10/20 / T / Food Webs
10/22 / Th / Biogeography
Lab:Independent Projects
Reading: MCEC 7
10/27 / T / Community Structure and Dynamics
10/29 / Th / Rocky Shores
Lab: Independent Projects and Aquarium
Reading: MCEC 7, 9
11/4 / T / Coral Reefs
11/6 / Th / Mangroves
Lab: Data Analyses and Independent Projects
Reading: MCEC 13
11/10 / T / Kelps
11/12 / Th / Pelagic and Deep Sea
Lab: Data Analyses and Independent Projects
Reading: MCEC 14, 15, 16, 17
11/17 / T / Climate Change and Threats to Marine Ecosystems
11/19 / Th / Marine Ecosystem Services and Protected Areas
Lab: IP Symposium, collect labs
Reading: MCEC 18, 19, 20
11/24 / T / EBM, Restoration, Future, Reading: 21, 22, 23
11/26 / Th / Thanksgiving Holiday
12/2 / T / Review
12/4 / Th FINAL E / EXAM 2

Grading:

Participation in Discussions – 10%

Laboratory and Reading Assignments – 20%

Exam 1 - 20%

Exam 2 - 20%

Ind. Project – 30%