Tentative Syllabus - Fall 2024
Where: Coastal Science Campus – Seymour Discovery Center, Rm# 128 (behind the whale skeleton)
When: Tuesday, Thursday – Lecture days: 8:00-12:00; Field days 6:00-3:00
Diving is at Stanford University’s Hopkins Marine Station, Pacific Grove, 7:00 am to 1:30 pm.
Instructors:
Mark Carr Ocean Health Bldg (OHB) 254-A (mhcarr@ucsc.edu; 246-3524 (cell))
Office Hours: By appointment
Pete Raimondi Ocean Health Bldg (OHB) 254-B (raimondi@ucsc.edu; 459-5674)
Office Hours: By appointment
TAs:
Calvin Munson OHB 255 cmunson@ucsc.edu; 720-891-6973
Office Hours: by appointment
Andrea Paz-Lacavex OHB 255 apazlaca@ucsc.edu;
Office Hours: by appointment and TBD
Principal course goals
Introduce students to the existing knowledge, hypotheses, and disputes regarding the abiotic and biotic processes that determine the structure and dynamics of kelp forest ecosystems
Familiarize students with critical reading of primary published literature in kelp forest ecology
Introduce students to sampling designs and methods commonly used for ecological research underwater
Teach students how to identify the common macroalgae, macroinvertebrates and fishes that inhabit central California kelp forests
Teach students how to write scientific papers
Provide students with experience in doing ecological research of their own, including: formulating questions, collecting and analyzing ecological data, writing scientific reports, and giving and receiving critical feedback
Provide students with experience in verbally presenting their independent research projects
Course Prerequisites
1. Biology 20A, 20B, and 20C or equivalent (1 yr Introductory Biology)
2. Bioe 75 (Scientific Diving) or the equivalent AAUS Scientific Diving certification is a prerequisite. Note that several SCUBA courses are prerequisites to Bioe75. Visit https://scientificdiving.ucsc.edu/ to learn about the schedule of these courses.
3. Active diving status in UCSC Science Diving Program
Recommended courses
Invertebrate Zoology (BIOE 136)
Ecology (BIOE 107 or ES 24)
Marine Ecology (BIOE 108)
Ichthyology (BIOE 137)
Marine Botany (BIOE 170)
Statistical Methods for the Biological, Environmental, and Health Sciences (AMS 7)
Criteria for grades and evaluations
The lecture (161) and field (161L) portions of this course are thoroughly integrated. Consequently, you will receive a single written evaluation or grade for both sections. This will be based on the following approximate breakdown of activities in the class:
Written field reports 30 %
Mid-term examination 25 % (lecture and practicum)
Participation in reading discussion 10 %
Independent project planning and execution 15 %
Independent project oral & written report 20 %
Required textbook:
Strunk, W. and E.B. White. 1979. The Elements of Style, 4th Edition. Allyn & Bacon, Needham Heights, Massachusetts
Recommended kelp forest ecology textbook:
Schiel, D. R., & Foster, M. S. (2015). The biology and ecology of giant kelp forests. Univ of California Press.
Recommended identification guides:
Gotschall, D.W. 1994. Guide to Marine Invertebrates – Alaska to Baja California. Sea Challengers, Inc. Monterey, California.
Mondragon, J. and J. Mondragon. 2003. Seaweeds of the Pacific Coast: Common Marine Algae from Alaska to Baja California. Sea Challengers, Inc. Monterey, California.
and one of the following fish identification guides:
Gotschall, D.W. 2001. Pacific Coast Inshore Fishes. Fourth Edition (revised). Sea Challengers, Inc. Monterey, California
Humann, P. 1996. Coastal fish identification: California to Alaska. New World Publications, Inc.
Eschmeyer, W.N. and E.S. Herald. 1983. A Field Guide to Pacific Coast Fishes, North America. Peterson Field Guide Series. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston.