Marine Biology

Course ID: B3103D46

Credits: 3

Course Prerequisites:

The course requires a certain minimum background in basic concepts of Biology. 

Course Description and Goals:

This course emphasizes ecological processes and adaptations that act to structure marine associations and permit their persistence through time. The course provides a brief survey (functional morphology) of the major marine living organisms; then stresses their habitat, community structures, adaptation, and inter-species interactions.

1 Principles of Marine Science

2 Overview of Biological, Chemical & Physical Oceanography

3 Marine primary producer – Phytoplankton & sea weeds

4 Marine secondary productivity - Zooplankton

5 Oceanic nekton & their adaptation

6 Lower Marine Invertebrate: Porifera, Cnidaria, Acoelomates & Pseudocoelomate

7 Protostomes: (Mulusca, Annelida, & Arthropoda)

8 Deuterostomes: (Echinodermata & Chordata)

9 Fish Biology – Adaptation

(10-18 refer to Course Schedule) 

Schedule Type:  

Designed for the 3rd or 4th undergraduate students with 3 units. Course is conducted with weekly 2-hour lecture plus 1-hour student presentation and discussion. Grades will be based on student’s oral presentation (50%), and final written exam (50%).