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BIOS Spring Courses
Immerse Yourself in Marine Science

Integrated Marine Ecosystems
Instructors: Drs. Michael Lomas, Peter Sedwick, and Nick Bates, BIOS

Description: This course is designed for senior level undergraduate students and will focus on the oceanic systems from an integrative point of view, focusing on the interactions between physical, chemical, and biological processes. Key principles in oceanography will be re-introduced during the first part of the course (e.g. ecological geography) to ensure a solid basis for the remainder of the course. The second part of the course will examine in detail several multidisciplinary oceanographic research programs as case studies. This examination will include an analysis of the physical, chemical and biological processes, their interactions, and the resulting impact on ocean biogeochemistry. Case studies will be chosen to reinforce the students understanding of ocean ecosystems and in particular, the contrasts between systems. This will be a non-lab course.

Texts: "Dynamics of Marine Ecosystems" by K.H. Mann and J.R.N. Lazier, and "Ecological Geography of the Sea" by A.R. Longhurst. There will be additional readings from the primary literature, expecially for the second part of the course, that delve into greater detail on relevant topics.

Course Requirements:The course is designed for a 14-week period, with three 1 hr lectures periods per week. Two of the lecture periods will be traditional lectures, and the third period will be a group discussion, led by students, of a particularly relevant paper(s). Grades are based on class participation, writing assignments, exams and a final scientific 'debate' on a relevant topic chosen by the instructors.

    A. Exams: Three exams are spaced throughout the course, with the final being a cumulative exam.

Participation: Group participation and free discussion are the underpinnings of advancing scientific understanding. Therefore, it is expected that students will be actively involved.

Writing Assignments: Throughout the course there will be four writing assignments, with each assignment building on the previous in scope and rigor.

    D. Grading: Your final grades will be determined based on the following categories and percentages.
      Exams 40%
      Writing assignments 40%
      Participation (including oral presentation) 20%
WEEK 1
    Lecture Period 1-2: Introduction to the earth ecosystem

    Lecture Period 3: Discussion of "Relevant Paper"

WEEK 2
    Lecture Period 4-5: Processes on the scale of <1km. Boundary layers, vertical structure in the open ocean, tidal mixing

    Lecture Period 6: Discussion of "Relevant Paper"

WEEK 3
    Lecture Period 7-8: Processes on the scale of 1-1000km. Coastal upwelling, fronts, internal waves, eddies and rings

    Lecture Period 9: Processes on the scale of >1000km. Ocean basins, major currents, gyres, global circulation.

WEEK 4
    Lecture Period 10: (cont.) Processes on the scale of >1000km. Ocean basins, major currents, gyres, global circulation.

    Lecture Period 11: Discussion of "Broecker, W.: 1987, 'Unpleasant surprises in the greenhouse?', Nature 328, 123."

    Lecture Period 12: 'New' availability of global oceanographic datasets.

WEEK 5
    Lecture Period 13: Hierarchy of Ecology Oceanography: Biomes, Oceans, Seas and Provinces

    Lecture Period 14: MID-TERM EXAM #1

    Lecture Period 15: Temporal Variability and the Adjustment of Spatial Boundaries. Climate forcing.

WEEK 6
    Lecture Period 16: (cont.) Temporal Variability and the Adjustment of Spatial Boundaries. Climate forcing.

    Lecture Period 17: Discussion of "Chavez, F., J. P. Ryan, S. Lluch-Cota and M. Niquen (2003), From anchovies to sardines and back: Multidecadal change in the Pacific Ocean, Science, 299, 217-221."

    Lecture Period 18: Lecture on the Atlantic Ocean Biomes (Longhurst Ch. 7)

 WEEK 7
    Lecture Period 19: (cont.) Lecture on the Atlantic Ocean Biomes (Longhurst Ch. 7)

    Lecture Period 20-21: Discussion of USJGOFS-NABE Process Study, Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study, ESTOC and CARIACO Time-series sites (select papers for DSR II special volume)

WEEK 8
    Lecture Period 22-23: cont. Discussion of USJGOFS - NABE Process Study, Bermuda Atlantic Time series Study, ESTOC and CARIACO Time-series sites (select papers for DSR II special volume)

    Lecture Period 24 MID-TERM EXAM #2

WEEK 9
    Lecture Period 25-26: Lecture on the Pacific Ocean Biomes (Longhurst Ch. 9)

    Lecture Period 27: Discussion of USJGOFS - EqPac Process Study and Hawaii Ocean Time-series (select papers for DSR II special volume)

WEEK 10
    Lecture Period 28-30: cont. Discussion of USJGOFS -EqPac Process Study and Hawaii Ocean Time-series (select papers for DSR II special volume)
WEEK 11
    Lecture Period 31-32: Lecture on the Southern Ocean Biomes (Longhurst Ch. 10)

    Lecture Period 33: Discussion of USJGOFS - ASOPS Process Study (select papers for DSR II special volume)

WEEK 12
    Lecture Period 34-36: cont. Discussion of USJGOFS - AESOPS Process Study (select papers for DSR II special volume)
WEEK 13
    Lecture Period 37: Lecture on the Indian Ocean Biomes (Longhurst Ch. 8).

    Lecture Period 38-39: Discussion of USJGOFS - Arabian Sea Process Study (select papers for DSR II special volume)

WEEK 14
    Lecture Period 40 - cont. Discussion of USJGOFS - Arabian Sea Process Study (select papers for DSR II special volume)

    Lecture Period 41 - Student debate

    Lecture Period 42 - FINAL EXAM