SEMESTER AT SEA COURSE SYLLABUS University of Virginia, Academic Sponsor

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1 Voyage: Spring 2015 Discipline: Biology BIOL & 502: Marine Biology Division: Lower Faculty Name: Sal Genovese Credit Hours: 3; Contact Hours: 38 Pre-requisites: None SEMESTER AT SEA COURSE SYLLABUS University of Virginia, Academic Sponsor COURSE DESCRIPTION This course provides a global perspective of life in the world s oceans. While the major focus of this course is biological in nature, students will first gain an understanding of the other basic sciences setting the stage for life in the oceans by examining the geological, chemical, physical, and astronomical aspects of, and influences upon, the world s oceans. An extensive survey of life in the ocean will be followed by an ecological tour of the major marine ecosystems found worldwide. This course will conclude with a formal examination of human use of and impact upon the world s oceans and its resources, but we will note and discuss these topics throughout the voyage in conjunction with our time ashore. COURSE OBJECTIVES To develop students knowledge and appreciation of marine ecosystems and adjacent coastal habitats visited throughout the voyage, with the ultimate goal of becoming life-long advocates for the world s oceans in the face of increasing human-induced impacts. This will be accomplished specifically as follows: 1. Provide the historical context for the study of the world s oceans. 2. Distinguish science as an objective method of inquiry employing a sequential set of procedures. 3. Present relevant concepts and principles from associated scientific disciplines having specific relevance to marine organisms and ecosystems, including: geology, chemistry, physics, and astronomy. 4. Review fundamental and essential biological concepts. 5. Employ taxonomic nomenclature in conjunction with a functional morphological approach to engage in an extensive survey of the diverse plant and animal life in the ocean, spanning microscopic plants and animals to macroalgae and megafauna, respectively. 1

2 6. Following a review of important ecological concepts, examine the major marine and adjacent coastal ecosystems we will encounter on our voyage. Understand the potential for cross-ecosystem exchange and flux of nutrients and organisms. 7. Examine the variety of living and non-living resources humans extract from the sea, as well as the potential for the development of new technologies and uses. 8. Understand the pathways of human-induced degradation of the world s oceans and how they can be offset and balanced by marine conservation and habitat restoration efforts. REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS AUTHOR: Castro & Huber TITLE: Marine Biology 9e PUBLISHER: McGraw Hill ISBN #: DATE/EDITION: 2013 / 9 th Edition TOPICAL OUTLINE OF COURSE January 7: Depart Ensenada A1-January 9: Course Introduction, The Scientific Method, Chapter 1 A Brief History and the Future of Marine Biology A2-January 11: Geography of Ocean Basins and The Sea Floor Chapter 2 A3-January 13: Chemical & Physical Features Chapter 3 of the Marine Environment Chapter 15: Hilo Preview pp January 14: A4-January 16: Hilo Hilo Debriefing Fundamentals of Life in the Sea Chapter 4 A5-January 19: Microbial Marine Organisms Chapter 5 January 20: 2

3 A6-January 22: Multicelluar Marine Algae and Plants Chapter 6 Yokohama - Kobe Preview A7-January 24: Exam 1 January 26-31: Yokohama - Kobe A8- February 1: Yokohama - Kobe Debriefing Chapter 7 Invertebrates Part I Shanghai - Hong Kong Field Lab Previews February 3-8: Shanghai - Hong Kong A9-February 9: Shanghai - Hong Kong Field Lab Debriefing Chapter 7 Invertebrates Part II Ho Chi Minh Preview February 11-16: Ho Chi Minh A10-February 17: Ho Chi Minh Debriefing Chapter 8 Biology and Functional Morphology of Marine Fishes Singapore Preview February 19-20: February 21: Singapore A11-February 22: Singapore Debriefing Chapter 9: Tetrapods Part I: Marine Reptiles and Birds through p. 186 Rangoon Preview February 24-March 1: Rangoon A12-March 2: Rangoon Debriefing Chapter 9: Tetrapods Part II: Marine Mammals p. 186 onward A13-March 4: Introduction to Marine Ecology Chapter 10: Cochin Preview omit pp

4 March 6-11: Cochin A14-March 12: Cochin Debriefing Chapter 11 Ecology of Intertidal Communities March 14: A15-March 15: Coral Reefs Chapter 14 Port Louis Preview A16-March 17: Exam 2 March 18: Port Louis A17-March 20: Port Louis Debriefing Chapter 12 Estuaries and Estuarine Ecosystems March 21: A18-March 23: Subtidal Benthic Communities Chapter 13 Cape Town Preview March 25-30: Cape Town A19-March 31: Cape Town Debriefing Chapter 15 Epipelagic Ecosystems Walvis Bay Preview April 2-6: Walvis Bay A20-April 7: Walvis Bay Debriefing Chapter 16 The Deep Sea A21-April 9: Resources from the Sea Chapter 17 April 10: A22-April 12: Anthropogenic Impacts on the Marine Environment I Chapter 10: pp April 14: 4

5 A23-April 15: Anthropogenic Impacts on the Marine Environment II Chapter 18 A24-April 17 The Oceans' Influence on Human Affairs and Culture Chapter 19 Casablanca Preview April 18-22: April 24: A25-April 25 April 29: Casablanca Global Lens Exams and A-Day Finals Arrive in Southampton FIELD WORK The Field Work portion of the Marine Biology course is defined as a combination of the Field Lab experience plus additional marine-related field experiences in other ports and onboard the M/V Explorer. Field Labs Field Lab attendance is mandatory for all students enrolled in this course. Please do not book individual travel plans or a Semester at Sea sponsored trip on the day of our field lab. Field Lab Locations: Shanghai (Section 1) and Hong Kong (Section 2). Field Lab Dates: February 3 (Shanghai) and February 8 (Hong Kong) Field Labs for the Marine Biology course will encompass visits to 2-3 separate locations: 1) Local Aquaria to view and document living examples of marine algae, invertebrates, fish, reptiles, birds, and mammals. 2) Local fish markets: to survey and document the marine plants and animals being sold. 3) Coastal and near-shore marine environments providing access to, or viewing opportunities of marine organisms. Field Lab Assignment (Due 10 days after Field Lab) Students will be evaluated based on: 1) A digital Species Identification and Description guide to 20 organisms viewed during the Field Lab. Specific details will be provided prior to the Field Lab, but it is expected students will compile a digital species identification guide that will include a range of marine organisms. In addition to photos and the taxonomic classification of each organism, students will comment on the functional morphology and ecological habitat of each species. 5

6 2) A journal description and reflection upon the day s events based on guidelines distributed before the lab. This will include broader topics including conservation themes and messages provided by the Aquarium and the source and sustainability of seafood for sale in the local fish market. 3) Completion of an additional written assignment distributed after the Field Lab, addressing specific aspects of each day s activities. Preparing these questions subsequent to the Field Lab ensures they will properly reflect the events and circumstances encountered during the excursion. Please Note: Field Lab attendance is required to submit this assignment, which is worth 20% of the final course grade. Shipboard & Port of Call Journal The Shipboard and Port of Call journal enables students to document marine-related observations both aboard the M/V Explorer while steaming between ports, and at various locations (e.g. Aquaria, Fish Markets, SAS-led field trips) while in port. It will encompass the following: Shipboard Observations: For each observation period of no less than 15 minutes and up to an hour, students should note: date, time, location (descriptive as well as Latitude, Longitude), air & water temperature (all available at lunchtime ship report) and any other salient atmospheric conditions, sea state and any other oceanographic feature visible from the MV Explorer, as well as detailed observations (abundance and distribution, identification, behavior) of any visible marine life. No less than 7 observations should be made during the entire voyage. To gain a comparative perspective of marine life throughout the spring, at least 1 observation should be made during each of the following sections of the voyage: 1) Ensenada to Hilo. 2) Hilo to Yokohama. 3) Yokohama to Cochin. 4) Cochin to Port Louis. 5) Port Louis to Cape Town. 6) Cape Town to Walvis Bay. 7) Walvis Bay to Casablanca. Port of Call Observations: At any of our ports of call, students will also be required to made 3 additional observations lasting 2-3 hours at marine-related activities such as: aquaria, local marine ecosystems, fish markets, fishing ports. Students will be briefed on possible observational opportunities prior to each subsequent port of call. If you have any questions regarding suitability of a Port-of-Call entry, please check in with me prior to that port stop. One observation should be made in each of the 3 segments of the voyage: 1) Ensenada to Shanghai. 2) Hong Kong to Cochin 3) Port Louis to Casablanca. Journals will be collected at multiple times (3-4) throughout the voyage to ensure journal entries: a) meet my expectations, b) are recorded in a timely manner, and c) can be given sufficient time for meaningful evaluation. Collection days will be provided on the first day of class. CLASS ATTENDANCE & PARTICIPATION Attendance is required, and is an easy way to earn 10% of your final grade. It s this simple: you lose 1% for each unexcused absence from class, with the participation component adjusted based on that starting point. So if you miss 2 class meetings, but give 100% participation in class discussions, you would receive 8% for this portion of the grade. If you miss class, lecture notes 6

7 will only be available from a classmate who is willing to share. METHODS OF EVALUATION / GRADING RUBRIC Grading: Exams (2) 40% Field Lab Attendance/Assignment 20% Shipboard & Port-of-Call Journal 10% Class Attendance & Participation 10% Final Exam 20% Grading Scheme: Based on cumulative percentage of points earned, your final grade will be as follows: A+ (97+), A (93-96); A- (89-92); B+ (85-88); B (81-84); B- (77-80); C+ (73-76); C (69-72); C- (65-68); D (60-65); F (< 60) RESERVE LIBRARY LIST: T.B.D. ELECTRONIC COURSE MATERIALS: T.B.D. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: None HONOR CODE Semester at Sea students enroll in an academic program administered by the University of Virginia, and thus bind themselves to the University s honor code. The code prohibits all acts of lying, cheating, and stealing. Please consult the Voyager s Handbook for further explanation of what constitutes an honor offense. Each written assignment for this course must be pledged by the student as follows: On my honor as a student, I pledge that I have neither given nor received aid on this assignment. The pledge must be signed, or, in the case of an electronic file, signed [signed]. 7