Physical, biological, and social aspects of the marine environments. Topics include oceanography, ecology, physiology, behavior, conservation, fisheries, exploration, and activism. Field and laboratory exercises expose students to common marine biological techniques and the diverse marine ecosystems of the San Juan Islands, WA, and to service-learning with local schools. Recommended: at least one quarter of introductory biology (more preferable).

This course examines the effective communication of scientific ideas in writing for both scientific and public audiences. Students read, analyze, and write diverse materials, learning to identify and practice concise, effective communication about marine science for a variety of audiences. The close-knit, hands-on FHL community creates and environment where students work together both inside and outside of class to build their skills.

This course will help students read peer-reviewed and public science writing, and understand and analyze those genres with respect to message, structure and target audience. Content will be focused on marine science and emerging issues in marine biology and ecology. Students will also engage in writing, learning to build effective science communication pieces targeted to specific audiences. Peer review, iterative editing, and both individual and team-based writing will be featured.

The Salish Sea provides the ideal backdrop to study marine mammals. This course will provide students new to the biological sciences an opportunity to learn about the wide variety of marine mammals found here and the ecosystems that support them. This course focuses on the biology and conservation of marine mammals and their habitats and the key processes that created them. Discussions will include various topics of marine mammal science and conservation including: taxonomy, morphology including adaptations for marine realm, behavior (feeding strategies, social interactions, reproduction, etc.), habitat use and range, acoustics, anthropogenic impacts, and management of threatened or endangered animals. Students will be taught how to collect marine mammal data such as behavior and population estimates, and may also participate in necropsies. There will be several field trips, both land based and boat based, focused on observing marine mammals in their natural habitats. Students should be prepared to conduct field observations in inclement weather.

Survey of plants represented in marine environments; natural history; ecology, distribution, habitat, adaptation, and trophic interrelationships. Taken at Friday Harbor laboratories.

Research in Marine Biology will enable students to engage in a practical research experience in close collaboration with supervisors.

The Research in Marine Biology (RMB) course has three primary goals: (1) give undergraduates insight into how to conduct exciting research relating to topics in marine biology; (2) explore some practical aspects of how to approach science as a career; and (3) learn about the natural history, evolution & ecology of Salish Sea fishes.

Survey of groups of invertebrate animals represented in the San Juan Archipelago; natural history, functional morphology, ecology, distribution, habitat, adaptation, trophic interrelationships, and evolution. Prerequisite: BIOL 445, which must be taken concurrently; permission of Friday Harbor director.

Aquatic invertebrates with emphasis on taxa with economic and cultural significance. Dramatic diversity, adaptation to environment, and evolutionary forces highlighted. Laboratories, field trips. Details

Aquatic invertebrates with emphasis on taxa with economic and cultural significance. Dramatic diversity, adaptation to environment, and evolutionary forces highlighted. Laboratories, field trips.

Syllabus

Ecologists study the abundance and distribution of species. In FISH 312, we will learn the basic principles of ecology, with a focus on the ecological processes that produce observable patterns in diversity and abundance. We will proceed from lower levels of biological organization to higher levels: from physiology and behavior to populations, communities, and ecosystems. Although the objective of the course is to teach students fundamental ecological principles that apply across all ecosystems, we will focus on the themes most relevant to marine and aquatic ecosystems, especially fisheries. Details

Ecologists study the abundance and distribution of species. In FISH 312, we will learn the basic principles of ecology, with a focus on the ecological processes that produce observable patterns in diversity and abundance. We will proceed from lower levels of biological organization to higher levels: from physiology and behavior to populations, communities, and ecosystems. Although the objective of the course is to teach students fundamental ecological principles that apply across all ecosystems, we will focus on the themes most relevant to marine and aquatic ecosystems, especially fisheries.

Syllabus

Overview of communicable and noncommunicable diseases that affect fish and shellfish. Major pathogens of free-ranging as well as captive animals discussed. Students learn to recognize, prevent, and control economically and ecologically important disease syndromes. Details

Explores the concept of sustainability and the interrelationship between environment, aquatic species, and culture of aquatic animal and plant species globally. Current practices, animal biology and health, near-shore ecosystem conservation, water quality, and strategies to improve the sustainability of aquaculture for food production and species conservation.

Syllabus

Investigates how the environment influences distributions and abundances of marine vertebrate and invertebrate species. Uses studies to understand fish and zooplankton life histories, predict trends in populations, reduce uncertainty in resource management, and to decouple anthropogenic from natural effects on aquatic populations. Details

Comparative advanced aquatic physiology focusing on the functional response of organisms to natural and human-associated environmental stress.

FISH 497 B is an advanced course on the ecology of marine predators, the environments they inhabit, and the important biotic and physical processes that govern the structure and function of the ocean ecosystems they occupy. We will explore a range of complex concepts in marine ecology, including trophic ecology, habitat selection, drivers of movement and migrations, and conservation. The course will also give a broad overview of the methods used to study marine top predators.

Application of molecular markers to ecology, evolution, and the management of living resources. Emphasis on understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the approach based on case studies. Details

Emphasizes geobiological patterns of marine evolutionary biology environment; processes of evolution; marine prokaryote and eukaryote diversity; and applications of evolutionary principles to ocean change, and conservation and management of marine biodiversity.

Explores the use of models in the evaluation of alternative management policies for natural resources, including modeling approaches, fitting models to data, and evaluating alternative management policies. Emphasizes calculating risk of extinction, and design of biological reserves. Details

Explores the use of models in the evaluation of alternative management policies for natural resources, including modeling approaches, fitting models to data, and evaluating alternative management policies. Emphasizes calculating risk of extinction, and design of biological reserves.

Syllabus

Study of marine ecological processes such as recruitment, disturbance, competition, and predation, and their effects on the structure and diversity of marine communities. Weekend field trips to local intertidal habitats required.

Emphasizes geobiological patterns of marine evolutionary biology environment; processes of evolution; marine prokaryote and eukaryote diversity; and applications of evolutionary principles to ocean change, and conservation and management of marine biodiversity.

Focuses on importance of ocean processes for the functioning of our planet. Interdisciplinary case studies are used to examine relationships and interactions at macro-, meso-, and microscales in the ocean. Case studies build upon previous topics and examines human influence on these systems. Intended for science majors.

Provides opportunities to experiment with oceanographic concepts through laboratory and field experiences. Students apply the scientific method of inquiry as it applies to the study of geology, physics, chemistry, and biology of the ocean. Emphasizes topics that explore current challenges faced by the ocean and its ecosystem.

Presents fundamentals of ocean science through regional case studies that illustrate the relationship between interdependent physical, chemical, biological, and geological process. Students apply tools from these scientific disciplines to understand major changes predicted for future oceanic environments.

Note: Will offer a satellite section with in-person lab and remote-instruction lecture at Friday Harbor Labs in Spring 2021 as an option for the ‘Spring Marine Studies’ program. More information at: https://fhl.uw.edu/courses/course-descriptions/spring-2021/.

Course Syllabus

This class will develop students understanding of the chemistry of carbon in natural systems.  Concepts of organic carbon structure, functional groups, reactivity, biomolecules, enzyme catalysis and basic biochemical pathways will be introduced.  The course will use examples of environmentally relevant biomarkers to teach some of these basic principles and metabolism will be taught through examples of environmentally relevant microorganisms.

This course is a bridge between introductory level chemistry and upper level marine science courses in which students are expected to have a background in the chemistry of organic carbon relevant to living or once living systems.

Details

Covers the distribution of life and chemical elements in the ocean; the relationship between them; and the physical processes affecting these patterns. Emphasizes how marine organisms and the structure of marine ecosystems influence the fate of carbon and other elements in the ocean.

The oceans play a key role in the biogeochemical cycling of elements on our planet. This course will follow the flow of elements and energy through the open ocean from production to export, with a focus on understanding the key mechanisms that result in the patterns we observe.

Students that will finish the course will be able to:

• the distribution of life and chemical elements in the ocean, understand the relationships between these patterns and the physical processes affecting these patterns.
• Describe how organisms and the structure of marine ecosystems influence the fate of carbon and other elements in the ocean, the role humans play in the modern carbon cycle, and how the carbon cycle has changed through time.
• Identify the processes affecting the distribution and cycling of an element through the ocean.
• Distinguish the implications of the rates of biological processes from those of the abundance of the organisms driving those processes
• Interpret graphical data for a wide range of physical, chemical and biological patterns and activities in the ocean, in advance of generating your own data in future courses and endeavors
• Describe and compare the advantages and disadvantages of the basic sampling strategies and experimental methodologies used to study biogeochemical cycles in the oceans, and generate a crucial experiment and describe necessary control experiments when provided with a hypothesis.

course website

Explores anthropogenic impacts on the oceans and marine organisms. Examines how scientific understanding informs environmental management, thereby linking science and society. Students develop a detailed understanding of the major categories of anthropogenic pollutants on marine systems,how they impact the environment, their sources, and fates.

Marine Pollution explores anthropogenic impacts on the oceans and marine organisms. Marine pollution occurs when harmful effects result from the entry into the ocean of chemicals, particles, industrial or residential waste, noise, or the spread of invasive organisms. In this course students examine how scientific understanding of marine pollution informs environmental management, thereby linking science and society. Students will develop a detailed understanding of five major categories of anthropogenic impacts on marine systems. Each theme will be explored from a variety of angles including pollution source(s), mechanisms of action, deleterious effects and mitigation thereof, management of the issue, and some likely futures for the issue/theme.

Topic for Spring 2021: Marine Protist Ecology

Reviews current research. Topics include global change effects on marine organisms, marine pathogens and emerging diseases, introduced species, marine viruses, astrobiology, hydrothermal vents, symbiosis, animal physiology, larval forms and dispersal, biogeography, and environmental ethics.