Attend all scheduled sessions of class (including field trips and site visits)
Participate in discussion of assigned readings and activities
Utilize e-mail & other electronic communication tools
Integrate concepts & case studies from multiple information sources
Conduct independent study projects (team-based)
Complete all written and oral assignments
Assignments & Projects 25%
Participation (Discussion, Internet) 15%
Exam I 20%
Exam II 20%
Final Exam 20%
A 94-96
A- 90-93
B+ 87-89
B 83-86
B- 80-82
C+ 77-79
C 73-76
C- 70-72
D+ 67-69
D 63-67
D- 60-62
F Below 60
Davis, R. A. 1994. The Evolving Coast. Scientific American Library, W.H. Freeman & Co., NY (on loan to reading group).
Shumway, S.W. 2008. The Naturalist's Guide to the Atlantic Seashore: Beach Ecology from the Gulf of Maine to Cape Hatteras. Falcon Publishers (on loan to reading group).
Bertness, Mark D. 2012. Atlantic Shorelines: Natural History and Ecology. Princeton University Press. Princeton, NJ. (Paperback) - need to purchase.
Beatley,T., D.J. Brower, A.K. Schwab. 2002. Coastal Zone Management, 2nd edition. Island Press, Washington, DC. (Paperback) - need to purchase.
Garrison, T. 1999. Oceanography: An Invitation to Marine Science, 3rd Edition. Wadsworth Publishing Co., Belmont, CA (Library Reserve).
Karleskint, Jr., George. 1998. Introduction to Marine Biology . Saunders College Publishers, Philadelphia, PA (Library Reserve).
Masselink, G. An Introduction to Coastal Processes and Geomorphology. Hodden Arnold Publications (Library Reserve).
U.S. EPA Web Site www.epa.gov
CRMC (RI Coastal Resource Management Council - environmental agency) http://crmc.ri.gov/
RIDEM (Department of Environmental Management - environmental agency) http://dem.ri.gov/
RI Health Department http://www.health.ri.gov/
Bryant Environmental Society http://web.bryant.edu/~bes
Providence Journal/Bulletin articles http://www.projo.com
U.S. Department of Energy Web Site http://www.doe.gov
Contact Addresses Updated on September 2010
Internet Environmental Sites
Information on Wetlands www.sierraclub.org/policy/conservation/wetlands.aspx/
Links to Environmental Action Organizations http://www.webdirectory.com/
Directory of Estuarine Environments http://www.edc.uri.edu/restoration/html/intro/salt.htm
http://omp.gso.uri.edu/ompweb/discovery/saltmarsh/smhome.htm#smhome
Directory of Rhode Island Coastal Environments http://omp.gso.uri.edu/ompweb/doce2.htm
Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds (EPA) http://www.epa.gov/owow_keep/index.html
Contact Addresses Updated on September 2010
Overview of current coastal issues
Internet connectivity and electronic roundtable discussions
Hands-on activities (site visits, problem-solving, meeting policy makers, introduction to GIS models, etc.)
Potential for conducting joint research & publishing a paper in a technical journal
Six to seven writing assignments must be completed (some assignments will be team-based)
Length: 2-5 pages of text
Must be original work (with notation of all references used)
Must be typed or word processed (use spell check)
Must include reference list in proper format (usually, a minimum of 1 journal, 1 book, 1 Web source)
Journal articles used must be of recent origin
Must be submitted on due date
One team assignment will include development of a small Web site reporting on the team's research; this Web site will be presented to the class in an oral demonstration
Some of the assignments may involve a site visit or field trip to a coastal habitat and a written field trip report may be required.
Assignments and presentations should demonstrate a general understanding of the assigned topics, a technical analysis of pertinent information, application of computer skills, and an integration of multiple viewpoints. A well-written report should accompany each project. Specific assignments are listed below.
Sources of Information:
Lectures
Textbook Readings
Library and Internet Research
Report
Follow report guidelines listed under "Assignments" for formatting and style
Select ONE aspect of the following problem:
Assessment of hurricane response plans along the U.S. East Coast as tested by a recent hurricane (Hurricane Sandi or Hurricane Matthew);
How good was the plan for the problem and location that you selected? Did it work? Afterthoughts?
Choose a specific area directly affected by one of these two hurricanes. Select one aspect of the impact. Then determine if that town, county, or region had a hurricance response plan in place.
Once you have researched the hurricane response plan for that specific coastal area, identify the following: (1) Physical/geological aspects of the hurricane coming ashore at the location you have selected (see the readings in your Davis texbbook); (2) Ecological implications of storm surges and coastal flooding following such storms (see readings in Bertness), and (3) the policy/economic issues of good or bad coastal planning (see readings in Beatley, et al.). Lastly, you are to make your own personal suggestions as to what the "next step" should be to improve the land use in that area, the disaster response plan, and/or the implementation process (i.e., lessons learned).
You might find it helpful to track down the City or Town's Comprehensive Plan, the State's Land Use Plan or Coastal Zone Management Plan, a report on localized FEMA activity, and the NOAA website for tracking the path and impact of the hurricanes. Most of this information is available online. Use proper citation format for reference information.
Submit your paper as instructed on CANVAS.
LIMIT - 4 PAGES + DIAGRAMS OR PHOTOS
Contact Professor Langlois if you have any questions.
Sources of Information:
Lectures
Textbook Readings
Library and Internet Research
Use an electronic document to present discussion - insert illustrations into Word document - submit on CANVAS.
Procedures:
Identify a "Cape" or a "Bay" that you would like to write about (e.g., Cape Cod, Cape May, San Francisco Bay, Narragansett Bay, Chesapeake Bay, etc.). Then answer the following questions:
(1) How was this area formed? What factors affected the development of the land/sea interface? How long ago?
(2) In terms of the time frame, describe the 1st and/or 2nd Order events that influenced the geological structure of the area (longer ago).
(3) Describe the 3rd Order events that fashioned the land and sea interface in the area (more recently, or ongoing).
(4) Describe the resulting land uses that emanated from these formational dynamics. How has the land use changed the area?
(5) What management programs/plans are in place to preserve the coastal character and prevent deterioration of this location? Be specific.
List all references used (including websites that you should name, as well as to provide the URL reference).
You must have at least one research journal reference, and at least one book reference (can be a textbook).
Submit your paper as instructed on CANVAS.
FOUR PAGE LIMIT - ONE REPORT PER TEAM
Contact Professor Langlois if you have any questions.
(One Field Trip Report Due - Seashore Trip - Field Trip Report I)
Sources of Information:
First Hand Observations
Laboratory Observation of Biota From Field Trip Location
Photo Evidence of Field Trip Experience
Prepare electronic document for report - insert illustrations into Word document - submit as an assignment on CANVAS
(1) Describe field trip locations (e.g., Salt Marsh, Rocky Intertidal Zone; Working Harbor, etc.).
(2) What type of environment is each one? (High energy, low energy, depositional, erosional, etc.) - ALL Locations
(3) What are the challenges facing organisms that live in any one of these environments? How do they cope with these challenges?
(4) Describe some associated land and water uses that would be found in this one area? How has the land or water use changed the area? - Describe for ONE of the habitats.
(5) What management programs/plans are in place to preserve the coastal character and prevent deterioration of this one location? Be specific. - Describe for ONE of the habitats
(6) Include some personal reflections regarding your impressions of this area - ALL Locations
List all references used (including websites that you should name as well as provide the URL reference).
If you are not in one of the posted group photos...provide a photograph of yourself at the location.
FIVE PAGE LIMIT FOR FIELD TRIP REPORT I
Field Trip Reports due (TBA)
Please submit your reports via CANVAS.
Contact Professor Langlois if you have any questions.
(One Lab Report Due - Estuarine Samples - Two Different Habitats)
Sources of Information:
First Hand Observations
Laboratory Examination of Biota From Field Trip Location
Reference Information - Guidebooks, Research Articles
Prepare electronic document for report - insert illustrations into Word document - submit in Safe Assign Dropbox on Blackboard
Describe habitat locations where samples were obtained (e.g., Salt Marsh, Rocky Intertidal Zone, etc.).
What type of environment is this? (Estuarine, Marine)
Describe a typical food web for organisms that live in these habitats - use sketches and photographs
Use Lab Report Format for Report
List all references used (including websites that you should name as well as provide the URL reference).
ONE REPORT FOR EACH TEAM
Please submit your paper via CANVAS Safe Assign Folder
POSTED DATA ON CANVAS - Materials for Lab Report Folder in Course Documents
Contact Professor Langlois if you have any questions.