The Tropical Marine Biology
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Tropical Marine Biology (BIOL
214W) is a fully accredited, 4 credit travel course taught
by Southampton Graduate Campus Marine Biology professors every January
Intersession. It fulfills a Biology elective. For the last 23
years the course has been taught at various locations in the South
Pacific including Fiji, Tahiti, The Cook Island, Tonga, New Caledonia,
and the Solomon Islands. Coral reef ecology is the primary focus
of the course although seagrass, mangrove and all other tropical
marine ecosystems are studied as well. Biodiversity of the algae,
invertebrates and fish, and the nature of their interactions are
emphasized.
Typically, three locations, chosen for their pristine habitats,
are the sites of the study for the month. Approximately half of
the course is made up of organized lectures, demonstrations and
field trips in order to learn the dominant organisms and their
roles in the ecosystems. The latter part of the course is devoted
to an independent research project, often a comparitive study
carried out at three study sites. A project report is submitted
two weeks after students return to campus. Some of the reports
have been published in undergraduate research journals. Major
field activities include snorkeling, reefwalking and underwater
photography. Ample opportunities are available for SCUBA diving.
PADI SCUBA certification may be obtained during the course.
Any student in good standing, with a background in Introductory
Biology (such as BIOL 101,
102 or 105)
and an interest in field work is eligible for the Tropical Marine
Biology Course. The cost of the course is an all-inclusive combination
of 4 credits tuition, airfare and travel fee which covers accommodations,
board and ground transportation. In some locations SCUBA costs
are included, in others they are paid individually.
Information about the course may be obtained from the C.W. Post Biology Department by calling
516-299-2481.
