Submersible investigations are possible with a local submarine vendor. Students will first explore the modern reef environments to understand the interaction between oceanographic setting, geology, and marine organisms. They will then examine the submarine terraces on which the modern reefs have been built and explore spectacular ancient analogs in outcrops that fringe Little Cayman Island to explore reef evolution. Natural and anthropogenic impacts on the reefs will be discussed to better understand the driving forces behind short and long-term reef evolution. We will also examine what drives coral reef development and what causes their demise and evolution.
Fishes are an integral part of the coral reef ecosystem.
Their role in the reef trophic dynamics, and the importance of habitat integrity to their presence and overall diversity makes coral reef fishes an important monitor of overall reef health. Survey data from the Project will be used to evaluate patterns in reef fish distribution. You will explore coral reefs and volcanoes with our resident faculty, and a local guide will take us into a variety of habitats in the tropical rainforest of Dominica. I.Overview of Geology and Regional Setting A. Plate Tectonics and the Caribbean 1. Regional tectonic history and basin analysis 2.