BIO 444 Coral Reef Biology and Ecology

Credit, four hours.
This course, designed for advanced Marine Science and Biology majors, will explore the ecology and evolution of coral reef communities, with a view to understanding what is happening on reefs today. This 4 credit course will begin with online course lectures, followed by a two-week trip to the Florida Keys. The online portion of the course will be self-paced (with some online discussions) and cover energy flow across reefs, biogeochemical cycling important for continual reef development, microbial Interactions that govern the flow of carbon and nitrogen through coral reefs, and current threats from climate change. Students will then spend two weeks in the Flordia Keys, carrying out short experimental projects and exploring various coral reef and mangrove systems.

A special fee applies to this course. Four hours. Cross-listed as: MAR 444 . Prerequisite(s): BIO 211 , BIO 212 .