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This general education Life Science course explores the diversity of marine organisms and introduces basic biological and ecological concepts. The course is designed to create an understanding of the diversity of life in the ocean from bacteria to mammals, the flow of energy through trophic systems, the evolution and adaptation of marine organisms in terms of their functional role in a given habitat, and how physical factors such as tides influence the structure of marine communities. The laboratory portion of the course combines classroom investigation with field exploration introducing local marine institutions and coastal habitats and emphasizing both experimental design and current field sampling techniques.

Biology 172 investigates the structure and dynamics of local marine intertidal and subtidal ecosystems. This course takes an in-depth look at the ecology of some of the most species-rich habitats in the marine realm with specific emphasis on examining the flow of energy from primary producers to top consumers, the short- and long-term dynamics, and the physical and biological characteristics of each habitat. This lecture course is designed to accompany Marine Ecology Lab. Fields trips may involve overnight camping and water activities.

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