Ocean 621: Biological Oceanography Spring 2011

(Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9:30-10:20 AM; MSB 315)

Instructors:

Matthew Church, Office: MSB 614, 956-8779, mjchurch@hawaii.edu

Karen Selph, Office: MSB 608, 956-7941, selph@hawaii.edu

Laura Grange, Office: MSB 621, 956-9540, grangel@hawaii.edu

Guest Lecturers:

Craig Smith, Office MSB 617, 956-7776, craigsmi@hawaii.edu

Grieg Steward, Office MSB 631, 956-6775, grieg@hawaii.edu

Course Overview:

Biological Oceanography (OCN 621) is one of several required core courses for graduate students in the Department of Oceanography at the University of Hawaii.  The course meets three times each week (MWF) from 9:30-10:20 AM in the Marine Science Building classroom 315.  Lectures and exams will cover fundamental concepts in biological oceanography, including topics pertinent to the study of the ecology of pelagic and benthic organisms.  Lectures will include information related to the biomass and productivity of diverse marine ecosystems, assessment of bioelemental cycling of marine organisms, and examination of environmental controls on the growth and mortality of benthic and pelagic organisms.  The course will be divided into three primary sections: 1) planktonic production and elemental cycling, 2) pelagic food web dynamics and fisheries oceanography, and 3) ecology of marine benthic habitats.

Grades will be earned based on two criteria: 1) Regular attendance and participation in weekly lectures (10%); and 2) Performance on the three written, in class exams (30% each).  Students are expected to attend all lectures having become familiar with the reading material assigned for each lecture.

Student Learning Outcomes:

1) Students should be able to define the major forms of life in the sea, describe the characteristics that distinguish these forms, and describe how these forms relate to each other ecologically.

2) Students should be able to explain how marine organisms influence cycling of bioelements.

3) Students should be able to describe prominent characteristics of the primary marine habitats.

4) Students should be able to define processes that control the biomass, growth, and productivity of organisms in the marine environment.

5) Students should be able to describe methodological approaches appropriate for evaluating the biomass, growth, and mortality of plankton, nekton, and sessile marine organisms.

Grading:

10% class participation

30% Exam I (Bioenergetics, production and respiration, biogeochemical fluxes)

30% Exam II (Zooplankton, pelagic ecology, fisheries oceanography)

30% Exam III (Benthic oceanography and ecology)

There is no required textbook for this course; however, instructors will assign reading material in the form of papers or book chapters.  Students are expected to be familiar with material in these assigned readings.

Course Schedule (Jan. 10-Feb. 18, 2011) - Classes meet 9:30-10:20 AM

Course Schedule (Feb. 21-April 4, 2011) - Classes meet 9:30-10:20 AM

Course Schedule (April 6-May 13, 2011)- - Classes meet 9:30-10:20 AM