BIOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHY

Catalog description

The ocean regulates our climate and therefore, the species' ability to adapt to different ecosystems. To effectively manage, conserve or restore our natural resources, we must understand the basic processes governing ocean and sea dynamics. This course will introduce our students to the fundamental concepts of Oc eanography. This interdisciplinary science tries to understand marine phenomena from the perspectives of the biological, geological, physical, and chemical sciences. The course will emphasize the tropical regions of our planet, with Puerto Rico and the Caribbean as the main objects of study. The course is divided into four units: 1) Geological Oceanography, 2) Chemical Oceanography, 3) Physical Oceanography, and 4) Biological Oceanography. The four units will allow our students to better understand the geol ogical, chemical, physical, and biological processes that shape marine life. Students will also be able to examine how human actions alter oceanographic processes. The course will be reinforced with activities outside the classroom and presentations by experts in the area where the students will put into practice what they have learned in class. There will be an emphasis on developing critical thinking skills through the analysis and evaluation of scientific information reflecting the impact of human activities on marine ecosystems. Applying the scientific method during the practical work sections in class will facilitate the development of skills related to scientific and quantitative reasoning. At the same time, the students' communication skills will be reinforced through a series of oral and written presentations reporting the results found during the discussion sections of articles published in scientific journals, using appropriate scientific language. Ethical behavior will be encouraged by identifying the patterns of ethical conduct that must be governed when carrying out activities that may have a negative impact on the health of marine ecosystems.