Ocean Ecosystems

Catalog description

Advanced ocean sciences course investigating the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the major pelagic ocean biomes from the polar through equatorial regions of the world ocean. Emphasis will be on the important marine plankton functional groups and how their abundances and rates of production are controlled by the circulation patterns of the ocean, ocean turbulence, food web structure, density stratification, the supply of nutrients and the availability of sunlight, and water transparency. 3 hrs. lec. Prereq: ESSC 363 and ESSC 369 or permission of instructor.