Marine Biology: Example Course Activity
Discuss:
View of New York City across Long Island Sound (George Guba, 2005)
Humans have always been strongly drawn to the sea. The pounding of the surf can soothe us in its regularity or sometimes terrify us with its strength. Poets such as Walt Whitman have long explored its emotional symbolism and deep-rooted importance.
Aquaria such as the one in Monterey Bay and The Maritime Aquarium at
Norwalk bring ocean life onto land. Scientific research institutes and marine groups, such as this one studying seahorses, greatly advance our understanding of ocean organisms and so, pave the way for effective and informed conservation.
What is your connection with the sea? Are you fascinated by ocean life? What areas of research in marine biology interest you now? Do you visit Cape Cod? Did you fish the Long Island Sound? What is the pull of the sea for humans? Are you concerned about the health of the environment?
Tell your classmates and your instructor about yourself. In particular, you might present your reasons for taking this course. We all have different backgrounds, interests, and strengths. One of the benefits of an online course such as this is that we can build a learning community where questions, suggestions, information, guidance, and mutual support can augment what you would otherwise learn on your own. At the end of the term, we will discuss whether Marine Biology has met your expectations and needs.
Read (article available to enrolled students) about a journey aboard a Woods Hole Oceanographic research vessel. Aboard the R/V Oceanic at the The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk as seen in the DVDs, you will see actual presentations and demonstrations of many of the techniques and technology used aboard the vessel discussed in this article. This article (article available to enrolled students) touches on many topics that we will be addressing: hypoxia, coral reefs, overfishing, global warming, the measurement of oceanographic parameters such as dissolved oxygen, salinity, temperature, the design and implementation of sampling gear, the impact of fishing gear and the role of top order predators in ocean health.
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