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Fall Elective for Marine Bio Majors: OCEAN 431 – Ocean Change Biology

OCEAN 431: Ocean Change Biology

Majors Fulfills: Ecology & Ecosystems Elective and 400-Level Major Elective

Minors Fulfills: Oceanography Electives

Course Description:

We are now living in the Anthropocene, an era marked by an outsized human impact on the planet. This course will focus on understanding how anthropogenic changes impact marine organisms, with a strong emphasis on global climate change. The course will explore drivers of Earth’s climate, organismal responses to climate variations and their ecological implications, as well as mitigation. The course will include interactive lectures, paper discussions, demonstration, computer simulations and guided inquiries.

Course Goals – By the end of this course, students will be able to:

  • Explain climate drivers, past trends, and future predictions
  • Articulate organismal responses to global change stressors and discuss their ecological implications
  • Evaluate mitigation strategies to address the climate and extinction crisis
  • Present, discuss, and critically assess primary literature on global ocean change biology
  • Apply a strategic framework to communicate ideas related to climate change

Course Highlights:

  • No final exam
  • Biweekly 15-minute concept checks
  • Interactive learning: simulations, guided discussions, and demonstrations

Recommended Preparation:

  • OCEAN 210 or 220
  • OCEAN 330 or MARBIO/FISH/OCEAN 370 preferred

Instructor:

Offered: Autumn 2025
More Info & Registration: OCEAN 431 Course Page

Please reach out to the Marine Biology advising team with any questions.