Course Description
The structure of reefs today and in the past, evolution of reef organisms and ecosystems, processes structuring reef systems, and the results of human disturbances.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students are required to develop a presentation for the
class and/or write a research paper.
Athena Title
Coral Reef Ecology
Non-Traditional Format
Enrollment in a separate 1-credit hour lab (ECOL 4280L/6280L) is optional.
Prerequisite
(BIOL 1108 and 1108L) or (BIOL 2108H and 2108L)
Semester Course Offered
Offered spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
This course addresses not only classic topics, but also important historical subjects/papers and recent research on coral reef ecology. Students will gain foundational knowledge of coral reef ecosystems, major phyla comprising these ecosystems, biological and physical processes structuring reefs, and the impact of humans on reef systems.
Topical Outline
Among the most spectacular of all ecosystems, coral reefs form in the world’s tropical oceans through the action of animals and plants. They are the largest and most complex biological structures on earth. Although they cover less than one percent of the earth’s surface, they are reservoirs for much of the ocean’s biodiversity, housing some of nature’s most intricate ecological secrets and treasures. Coral reefs are also the most productive ecosystems in the sea and provide significant ecological goods and services, estimated at over $400 billion annually. Their physical structures protect thousands of miles of coastline from the fury of tropical storms, hurricanes, and tsunamis. Many low-lying islands are threatened by rising seas and ocean acidification threatens all structures made of calcium carbonate. The intricate adaptations for survival that have evolved over an immense span of time make reefs vulnerable to human activities. For example, excess nutrients support algal overgrowth, while over-fishing alters the food web. The extent to which reefs in remote locations are now showing signs of stress, especially bleaching and disease, points to the critical role that coral reefs play as indicators of declining ocean health. This course will be an introduction to tropical coral reefs and the organisms and processes responsible for their formation. Lectures will cover the following topics: What is a reef? What organisms have made reefs in the past? What factors are responsible for development of reefs? What organisms make reefs today? Coral species, zonation, distribution, autotrophy, heterotrophy, reproduction, calcification, water flow, climate change, ocean acidification Zooxanthellae, types, bleaching How does sea-level change affect reefs? Effects of herbivory Effects of predation Effects of competition and aggression Population biology Effects of disease Evolution