Marine Science Honors
The purpose of this course is to provide the students with an understanding of the physical components of the marine environment and the marine ecology. Marine science includes a multi‑faceted branch of biology that deals with evolutionary history, structure and function of marine organisms. This course will emphasize the marine ecology of Florida.
 
Text:              Life on an Ocean Planet, 2006 Current Publishing Corp., USA                        Supplemental materials

           
COURSE ORGANIZATION:

Part I: Includes an introduction to basic concepts of physical and chemical oceanography. It will cover a historical overview, plate tectonics, ocean sediments and landforms on the ocean floor. Emphasis will be on the physical aspects of the ocean.
Part II:  Survey of the divisions of the deep‑sea environment.
Part III: Comparative perspective of coral reefs, seagrasses, mangroves, kelp forests.
Part IV: Invertebrate marine zoology
Part V: Continues with the phylogenetic relationships of the metazoan groups.
Part VI:  Vertebrate marine zoology, emphasizing marine mammals.