Students will be introduced to the techniques used to measure and accurately map a coral reef. Both in-class and homework exercises will be given. Techniques used in reef sediment studies will be explained and demonstrated. Students will examine typical coral reef sediments using light and scanning electron microscopy. Yet they are the reef builders and consolidators in the Indian and Pacific Oceans and important primary producers in nutrient poor tropical seas.
Seaweeds have a growing role as biological indicators of ecosystem stress.
Students will be introduced to the theory behind various techniques for measuring temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen concentration and turbidity and shown how to carry out these measurements in the field. These seaweeds will be reviewed, focusing on characters useful for field identification. After the review, a photo-quiz requiring identification of selected species will be given. After the review, a photo-quiz requiring identification of selected species will be given. These corals will be reviewed, focusing on characters useful for field identification.