Instructor: Samantha de Putron, Ph.D.
The Coral Reef Ecology course at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences is an intensive integrated
introduction comprised of lectures, required reading, laboratory exercises and field surveys. The
lectures cover a broad range of relevant topics in coral reef ecology that are supplemented by readings
from the primary literature with attention given to active areas of research.
Grading
Problem set 5%
2 lab reports 25% (1st lab report is 10%, 2nd lab report is 15%)
Exams 40% (Mid Term 15%) (Final Exam 25%)
Oral Presentation/ analysis of field and lab work 30%
Abstract (5%), reference list (2%)
Science content (5%), Powerpoint use (3%), Presentation skills (3%)
Participation (during the course, 10%; during presentations, 2%)
We meet for lectures in the Sunderman Room and your lab is the Scott Lab.
The lab work is focused on training in practical techniques:
- separation of coral tissue from skeleton
- fractionation by centrifugation
- enumeration of zooxanthellae with a haemocytometer
- chlorophyll analysis
- determination of coral surface area
- demonstration of the use of respirometers and light sensors to construct Production/Irradiance
curves for corals
- coral growth determination using a buoyant weighing technique
- measurement of coral feeding
Various field techniques and subsequent lab analyses are used repetitively at different sites so that
each student has the opportunity to become familiar with the following methods:
- video-taping of reef transects to assess community structure
- quantification of reef fish community structure using a visual census method
- quadrat sampling of reef algae, sorting, identification and dry weight biomass estimation
- quadrat sampling and measurement of juvenile corals to construct size/frequency curves
- quantification of parrotfish and surgeon fish feeding rates and social interactions
The laboratory and field work are synthesized either in written laboratory reports or as a final oral
presentation (which also requires a 200 word abstract and a list of 4-6 references). Both are based on
a typical format for presenting scientific results to an audience and so are designed to provide experience
in communicating science.
WEEK 1
Monday
BIOS orientation
Wednesday
0900 - Lecture 1: Coral structure and anatomy
1030 - Lecture 2: Coral symbiosis with
zooxanthellae
1300 - BOAT: Check out dive
WEEK 2
Monday
0900 - Lecture 3: Coral zonation and distribution
1030 - Lecture 4: Coral community structure of
Bermuda's reefs
Explanation of the course field and lab work
1300 - LAB: Zooxanthellae counting, chlorophyll
content
Begin coral buoyant weight (T0)
Coral and fish identification
Preparation for patch reef coral community
structure field trip
Tuesday: read Chl values
Wednesday
0800 - BOAT: Reef survey at a patch reef in the
lagoon
1300 - LAB: Reef survey data analysis - algae
sorting, video transects, enter fish data
Surface areas of buoyant weight corals (T0)
Thursday/ Friday: weigh algae samples
WEEK 3
Monday
0900 - Lecture 5: Coral growth & calcification
1030 - Lecture 6: Factors affecting primary production
1300 - PI demonstration
Drawing a PI curve (computer room tutorial)
1500 - LAB: Coral buoyant weight (T1)
Finish off patch reef survey data analysis
Coral and fish identification
Preparation for rim reef coral community
structure field trip
Wednesday
0800 - BOAT: Reef survey of a rim reef
1300 - LAB: Reef survey data analysis- algae sorting,
video transects, enter fish data
Coral ID 'fun' quiz
Thursday/ Friday: weigh algae samples
WEEK 4
Monday
P/I Problem Set due
0900 - MID TERM EXAM
1100 - LAB: Prepare for ship grounding field trip
1300 - BOAT: Juvenile coral surveys at a ship
grounding site
Wednesday
0900 - Lecture 7: Space creation- summary of physical
and biological perturbations
1000 - Lecture 8: Herbivory on coral reefs
1100 - Lecture 9: Predation & filter feeding
1300 - LAB: Feeding experiment
Coral buoyant weight (T2)
Discuss feeding experiment lab report
Enter ship grounding data
Preparation for terrace reef coral community
structure field trip
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WEEK 5
Monday
0800 - BOAT: Survey of a Terrace Reef
1300 - LAB: Reef survey data analysis- algae sorting,
video transects, enter fish data
Tuesday/ Wednesday: weigh algae samples
Wednesday
Feeding experiment lab report due
0900 - Lecture 10: Coral reproduction
1030 - Lecture 11: Nutrients on coral reefs
1300 - LAB: Final Buoyant weight (T3)
Zoox counts, chl and surface area of buoyant
weight corals
Discuss corals and irradiance lab data- buoy
ant weight, chl and zoox
Thursday: Read chl values
WEEK 6
Monday
0900 - Lecture 12: Coral bleaching and disease
1030 - Lecture 13: Reef fish ecology
1300 - Lecture 14:Human Impacts and climate
change
1500 - LAB: Finish off any remaining reef survey
analysis
Work on buoyant weight and irradiance lab
report
Prepare for fish grazing study
Wednesday
Buoyant weight and irradiance
lab report due
0800 - BOAT TRIP: fish grazing study
1300 - Lecture 15: Natural Resource Management of
Reefs
1430 - Enter and discuss fish grazing data
Assign and discuss presentation topics
Individual tutorials in groups to work on
presentation data
WEEK 7
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