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Appledore Island, Isle of Shoals, Kittery, Maine
t: 603.964.9011 • [Link]@[Link] • [Link]
Shoals Marine Laboratory
Marine Environmental Science and Conservation (BIOSM 2770/MEFB 515)
13 D 27 June 2015
Course Syllabus and Schedule
Faculty: Dr. Jennifer Seavey [Email: jrs583@[Link]]
Dr. Jarrett Byrnes [Email: [Link]@[Link]]
Dr. Justin McAlister [Email: jmcalist@[Link]]
Prerequisites: one semester of collegeFlevel biology or equivalent.
Class enrollment limit: 20
Credits/credit hours: 3 Cornell/ 4 UNH
Course Objectives/Goals:
Marine Environmental Science and Conservation will provide students with an introduction to the topics
of environmental science and conservation of marine and coastal organisms and ecosystems. This is a
critical subject as over 70% of our planet is ocean and 80% of the world’s population (and 50% of
Americans) lives within 50F60 miles of the ocean. Humans use coastal areas extensively, which often
leads to conflicts between humans and the natural roles and services provided by marine and coastal
ecosystems, as well as their constituent organisms.
In this course, we will focus on the major principles of marine diversity and conservation and on methods
to bring human communities into a better relationship with the natural resources they enjoy and rely on.
We will investigate examples and topics local to the Gulf of Maine as well as topics that are relevant on
regional and global scales. We will explore:
1. What we are conserving: marine ecosystem processes; the functional roles of marine and coastal
organisms; biodiversity; relevance of marine science to current scientific, social, health, and economics
2. Threats to marine ecosystems
3. Conservation: species; communities; ecosystem function and services; adaptive management
The course project will revolve around applying the NE Region Ocean Management Plan (draft out in
Spring 2016) and applying it to local concerns. Students will interact with local stakeholders, scientists,
and conservation professionals.
The overall goal of this course is to provide students with a working understanding of marine and coastal
environmental science and conservation biology. The specific objectives are for students to:
Expectations and Conduct:
Students are responsible for fully understanding all of the information presented in this syllabus. If there
are any questions regarding this information, it is the student’s responsibility to bring it to the
instructor’s attention. In addition, students are responsible for attending all activities associated with this
course and completing all assignments. Students are responsible for asking questions anytime they need
clarification (remember, there is no such thing as a bad question).
Every student is responsible for their own behaviorF specifically by being respectful and collegial to other
students and with instructors. Students are responsible for fully understanding and adhering to all of the
information presented in the SML Appledore Handbook
([Link] Students should put safety above all else
and ask questions and make decisions that reflect this priority.
1. Personal Technology. Do not use cell phones, smart phones, iPads, mp3 players,
headphones, or similar devices in the classroom or during course activities. If you take
notes with your computer, disable wireless access during lecture
2. The lab has a modest computer facility in Laighton Library; please treat this shared
facility with respect. Printers are available, but please limit printing to your FINAL
document (if required).
3. Transmission of Course Materials. Students are not authorized to replicate, reproduce,
copy or transmit lectures and course materials presented, or derivative materials
including class notes, for sale or free distribution to others without written consent of
the instructors who are the original source of the materials.
4. Academic Integrity. Any work submitted must be your own. Uncredited use of another
person’s words, data or images is considered plagiarism, a serious violation of the Code,
whether the material comes from another student, a web site, or a published paper.
Students must adhere to Cornell’s and UNH’s Policy for Academic Honesty/Plagiarism
and Discrimination
A. Cornell: [Link]
B. UNH: [Link]
hampshire
5. Disabilities & ADA Accommodation: Students with a disability must contact Cornell’s
(420 CCC building; 607F254F4545) or UNH’s Student Disability Services
[Link] four weeks prior to start of class for
confidential discussion of needs and for registration to verify eligibility for academic
accommodations. No retroactive accommodations once you are on Appledore Island
can be made.
6. Mental Health: Shoals Marine Laboratory cares about you and your well being. If you
experience unusual personal or academic stress during the course or need to talk with
someone about a personal problem, seek support from your instructors as soon as
possible. In addition, any SML staff person is available for consultation 24/7. Find staff
in the office in the Hamilton House between 8am 7pm or knock on the door of Bartels
House after hours
Finally, and most importantly, students are responsible for sharing their views, perspectives, opinions,
and experiences with the class. Each student brings to the class a unique worldview that has been shaped
by their personal experiences and observations. By sharing this worldview, each of us will develop a
broader and more enlightened worldview and, as a result, develop a better understanding of how to
apply the principles of the marine sciences and conservation biology to the preservation and
management of real landscapes.
SCHEDULE
Day 1 (June 13) " arrive in the afternoon, fire and water, walking tour
Lecture: Introduction to Course & Each Other & Course Project
Lecture: Properties of Seawater
Day 2 (June 14)
Lecture: Physical setting of the Gulf of Maine & Appledore
Lecture: Adaptions to living in the water
Field: Exploring the islands with stakeholders
Project: Introduction
Rock Talk: Owen Nichols, Center for Coastal Studies" Fisheries Mgt
Day 3 (June 15) " quiz, food run
Lecture: Biological setting of Shoals
Lecture: Ocean circulation, waves, tides
Field: Bio oceanography outing
Project: Picking Issues/Teams
Day 4 (June 16) " quiz
Lecture: Marine Invertebrates
Field: Whale watch 10"3pm
Project: TBD
Day 5 (June 17)" quiz
Lecture: GOM Marine Ecosystems" rocky intertidal, zonation, mud/sand, & salt marsh
Lecture: Nekton I: fish and fisheries
Field: intertidal exploration
Project: TBD
Day 6 (June 18) " quiz
Lecture: Nekton II: cephalopods, marine mammals, sea turtles, seabirds
Lecture: Seabird conservation issues
Field: White Island Field trip
Project: Goals & objectives
Day 7 (June 19) " quiz
Lecture: Marine pollution
Lecture: Marine invasions
Field: Invasive Species Scavenger Hunt
3pm Marine Mammal Research Symposium
Project: Goals & Objectives
Day 8 (June 20) " quiz
Lecture: Fisheries Extraction Management 101
Lecture: Climate change 1
Field & Project: Stakeholders
Day 9 (June 21) " quiz
Lecture: Climate change 2
Field: Commercial Fisheries
Rock Talk: Jennifer Felt, Conservation Law Association, National Ocean Planning
Day 10 (June 22) quiz, food run
Lecture: Conserving species
Lecture: Conserving Communities
Field: Ocean Acidification mock conference activity
Project: Adaptive management
Day 11 (June 23) " quiz
Lecture: Conserving Ecosystem Function and services 1
Lecture: Conserving Ecosystem Function and services 2
Field: SML Intern field trip
Project: Defining indicators
Day 12 (June 24) " quiz
Lecture: Conserving Ecosystem Function and services 3
Film: Ocean Frontiers
Field: TBD
Project: Final Products
Day 13 (June 25)
Film: Blue Mission
Project: Work time
Field: Star Island Fun
Day 14 (June 26)
Lecture & Field: Fisheries Management
Project: Work time and Group Presentations
Day 15 (June 27)
Clean up
Depart
Paper Due June 30
