Marine Benthic Ecology

Catalog description

A grade of ‘C’ or better in MSCI 302 and MSCI 302L or BIOL 370 and BIOL 370L Corequisite(s): MSCI 479L This course presents a comprehensive review of the structure and function of coastal and oceanic benthic ecosystems. The relationships between primary producer and consumer form and function in benthic habitats are discussed including hydrothermal vents, seamounts, continental shelf, rocky intertidal, and nearshore and estuarine soft bottom communities. The relevance of benthic community production to ecosystem function, fisheries, and modern living resource management topics are evaluated and related to the biology of dominant fauna. Three lecture hours per week. Semester(s) Offered: Spring, even years