Core Curriculum

OCOR 5601 Concepts in Physical Oceanography/ 3 credits. Introduction to how wind, radiation, gravity, friction, and the Earth's rotation determine the ocean's temperature and salinity patterns and currents. Conceptual models (geostrophy, Ekman transport, Rossby waves, etc.) explain physical features of the ocean ranging from microscopic turbulence to global circulation. Prerequisite: algebra.

OCOR 5602 Marine Ecosystems / 3 credits. A study of the major plankton, nektonic, and benthic groups and associations, including their diversity, distribution, metabolism, production, trophic relationships, and ecological roles, with emphasis on coastal communities.

OCOR 5604 Marine Geology / 3 credits. The origin, form, and resources of the ocean basins and continental margins including a discussion of seafloor spreading, trenches and island arcs, mountain building, coral reefs and atolls, sedimentation, ocean mining, coastal morphology, and the impact of wave action and human activities on beaches and coasts, continental shelves, and submarine canyons.

OCOR 5605 Marine Chemistry / 3 credits. A study of the properties, composition, and origin of seawater; the importance, distribution, relationships, and cycling of the major inorganic nutrients, dissolved gases, trace metals, and organic compounds; and the use of radiotracers for water mass dating.

OCOR 5606 Biostatistics / 3 credits. Practical applications of descriptive and inferential statistics with emphasis on principles and methods of summarizing biological data. Measures of central tendency, disperson and variability testing, basic concepts of probability distributions, hypothesis testing and decision making. Simple statistical tests, analysis of variance (ANOVA- single classification, nested and two-way), linear regression, and correlation.

Additional Courses

OCMB 0796 Directed Independent Study (for Marine Biology M.S.)/1-3 credits. Directed study in aspects of marine biology. May be used, under special circumstances, for completion of capstone review paper.

OCMB 6055 Marine Microbiology / 3 credits. The nature, activities, interactions, and ecological roles of marine bacteria and their heterotrophic microbial consumers in coastal and offshore environments.

OCMB 6060 Marine Phytoplankton / 3 credits. Study of the major groups of phototrophic marine eukaryotic plankton, stressing current concepts of their activities, ecological role, importance, dynamics, and interrelationships.

OCMB 6065 Marine Zooplankton / 3 credits. Examines aspects of zooplankton composition, large- and small-scale distribution, and ecology. Classical theory and literature provide the background for emphasis on modern concepts and techniques in zooplankton biology.

OCMB 6070 Marine Botany / 3 credits. Morphology, life histories, taxonomy, physiology, and ecology of multicellular marine phototrophs, including algae, seagrasses, and mangroves.

OCMB 6080 Marine Invertebrates / 3 credits. The study of important groups of planktonic and benthic invertebrates, with emphasis on their abundance, role in food webs and nutrient cycling, feeding and growth rates, productivity, reproduction, and interactions.

OCMB 6090 Marine Vertebrates / 3 credits. A survey of marine fishes, reptiles, birds, and mammals, with emphasis on representative families, genera, and species, including their anatomical and physiological features, interrelationships, distribution, and ecology.

OCMB 6091 Biostatistics / 3 credits. A basic course on the practical applications of descriptive and inferential statistics, with emphasis on principles and methods of summarizing biological data. Measures of central tendency, dispersion and variability testing are discussed, along with basic concepts of probability distributions, hypothesis testing, and decision making. Topics also include simple statistical tests (including nonparametric tests), analysis of variance, simple and multiple regression, and correlation. Examples and problems are from ecology and aquatic toxicology.

OCMB 6110 Biological Oceanographic Research Methods / 3 credits. Description and analysis of various research methods used in biological oceanography.

OCMB 6120 Tropical Marine Fish Ecology / 3 credits. Study of the ecology of tropical fish, including coastal, estuary, mangrove, and pelagic fish. Current theories on distribution and abundance will be discussed in addition to ecological theory.

OCMB 6150 Topics in Field and Lab Techniques / 1-2 credits each. Instruction in specialized lab and/or field methodology that may be necessary to enable students in the M.S. (Oceanography) option to begin their independent thesis research. Requires prior arrangement with a faculty member.

OCMB 6195 Dynamic Biological Oceanography / 3 credits. Explores modern concepts and approaches in the study of life in the sea. Emphasis is on understanding the scales and coupling of biotic and physical variability, the use of modern continuous sampling techniques, and the handling of data from such samplers. Guest lectures and round table discussions help to identify and examine the relationships between physical and biological processes in a variety of oceanographic systems (for example, the California Current, the Gulf Stream). Some background in statistics and calculus will be helpful.

OCMB 6196 Biological Effects and Risks of Chemicals in the Aquatic Environment / 3 credits. Basic course on the biological effects and risks of foreign chemicals in aquatic ecosystems. Topics will include bioavailability and fate in sediment water systems, uptake, metabolism and accumulation in fish and invertebrates, and biodegradation in microorganisms. Sublethal behavioral and physiological effects will be discussed along with environmental legislation and risk assessment methods. Presentations will be relevant to acids, metals (organometallics), detergents, pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, dibenzo-paradioxins, dibenzofurans, petroleum hydrocarbons, radionuclides, nutrients, and other conventional pollutants. The metabolism of each chemical group will also be examined in fish, invertebrates, algae, and microorganisms along with methods of analysis. Prioritization schemes for hazardous chemicals in the U.S. and overseas will be presented with case studies on hazard/risk assessment.

OCMB 6220 Functional Morphology and Physiology of Fish / 3 credits. Introductory course to the study of fishes. Topics include a survey of the major groups of fishes, current systematics, anatomy, physiology, ecology, reproduction, and behavior. Underlying themes include functional morphology and the integration of the animal with its environment.

OCMB 6230 Marine Ichthyology / 3 credits. The course centers on the systematics, ecology, behavior, and resource management of marine fishes with emphasis on the inshore fishes of the tropical Atlantic. A self-paced laboratory and some field work are integral to the course.

OCMB 6310 Methods in Plankton Ecology / 3 credits. The course focuses on common measurement techniques used in water column biology. The emphasis is on field applications for sampling the distributions and evaluating the activities of phytoplankton and zooplankton. Development of creativity and problem-solving skills is also a priority.

OCMB 6320 Food Webs of the Ocean / 3 credits. The focus of the course is on developing an appreciation of the classical theory of trophic dynamics and of the contemporary framework upon which our understanding of how matter and energy flows through marine ecosystems is based. Emphasis is placed upon individual investigation and research, development of a sense of how marine food webs function, and recognition that much is not yet known about food web function.

OCMB 6330 Marine Mammals Management / 3 credits. This is a distance education course. A variety of topics will include the physiological profile, anatomical structure, energetics, feeding habits, and population dynamics of marine mammals, along with their interactions with man and other species. Comparisons will be made among the four major groups of marine mammals.

OCMB 6900 Master's Thesis Research (Marine Biology) / 2 credits each. Research and thesis preparation. No more than 9 credits toward the M.S. degree may be applied. Requires prior consultation with major professor and submission of an approved thesis proposal.

OCMB 7000 Capstone Review Paper/ 3 credits. An extended literature review of a subject approved by the student's advisory committee. The paper should demonstrate proficiency in library research, organization, and writing.

OCMB 7010 Capstone Review Continuation Credits / 1-3 credits each. These credits are necessary to complete the capstone review paper (Marine Biology).

OCMB 7012 Coral Reef Ecology / 3 credits. General ecology of corals and coral reefs. Includes discussion and description of distribution, abundance, and physiology of corals and coral reef animals. Effects from important natural and anthropogenic events and causes will be described. Emphasis given to coral-reefs of the Caribbean and Florida Keys.

OCMB 7013 Molecular Marine Biology / 3 credits. This course covers theoretical and laboratory aspects of recombinant DNA techniques as applied to ecological, evoluationary and physiological investigations of marine organisms. Laboratory topics will include DNA isolation, gel electrophoresis, Polymerase Chain Reaction and analysis of DNA sequence data. Theoretical topics will include fundamentals of eukaryotic genome and gene structure, theory of recombinant DNA technology, and discussions of the application of this powerful technology to marine biology.

OCGY 0799 Ph.D. Directed Study / 1-3 credits each. Advanced tutorial instruction and/or directed independent study in specialized aspects of ocean science.

OCGY 8000 Ph.D. Dissertation Research / 1-9 credits. Research and progress toward completion of the Ph.D. dissertation.

CZMT 0603 Law and the Coastal Zone / 3 credits. General instruction in legal fields and in selected environmental sciences, combined with in-depth study of administration of maritime industries and coastal activities. Focuses on the regulation of marine and maritime pursuits that pertain to the coastal zone and adjacent territorial waters.

CZMT 0605 Coastal Protection and Engineering / 3 credits. Evaluation of the practices of coastal and offshore engineering in terms of impact on the shoreline. Causes of both desired and unwanted modifications of coastal configuration are described from a practical point of view. Aspects of applied geomechanics are considered, in relation to civil, military, and industrial engineering projects.

CZMT 0609 Principles of Coastal Zone Management / 3 credits. Management of coastal resources, based on the principles and techniques of a diverse array of disciplines, discussed in terms of a balanced coastal strategy. Practical solutions to conflicts of use, especially those of coastal zone protection versus land, mineral, and water development practices, are studied in relation to their impact on the coastal resource base.

CZMT 0610 Dry Coastal Ecosystems / 3 credits. A comprehensive review of coastal drylands comprising dune strands, barrier beaches, old dunes, hammocks, and the submaritime fringe. The complexities and subtleties of ecological relationships and importance of organic resources in this zone are emphasized.

CZMT 0612 Coastal Resources and Economic Activities / 3 credits. Inventory of global coastal zone resources and their effect on human wants and objectives; technologies; and the distribution of economic activities such as fishing, mariculture, mining, transportation and shipping, tourism, manufacturing, agriculture, forestry and settlement.

CZMT 0621 Florida Environmental Regulation / 3 credits. A study of the organizational structure and operation of Florida state, county, and local environmental regulatory agencies.

CZMT 0622 Coastal Water Resource Impacts / 3 credits. This course is oriented toward a systems analysis of the multiple uses that shape the coastal zone. Emphasis is on the multiple uses of the coastal zone and their associated impacts. In addition, the current "balancing" of development and environmental protection policies of state and federal government and how these policies have affected the coastal environment are discussed. The course not only deals with specific environmental problems but also analyzes the problems and prospects of effective planning, technical management, regulation, and legislation used for managing the coastal environment.

CZMT 0634 Oil Pollution Effects / 3 credits. CZMT 0634 Oil Pollution Effects / 3 credits. The focus of this course is the impact of petroleum hydrocarbons on natural and human environments. The course is designed to provide a background in petroleum chemistry, natural resources, and human resources at risk; effects and fate of spilled hydrocarbons; relevant regulations; and spill contingency planning. Data are drawn from recent publications in petroleum and environmental research, from case studies of actual spills, and from various contingency plans. Students have the opportunity to participated in a spill drill, study recent spill sites, review area contingency plans, and use computer-generated (Georgraphic Information Systems) maps for oil spill response.

CZMT 0650 Fundamentals of Aquatic Ecotoxicology / 3 credits. Basic course on the fate of chemicals and their biological effects on aquatic organisms. Presents the history of aquatic toxicology and the general mechanisms of transport and transformation of chemicals in water/sediment systems and within aquatic organisms. Examines basic aquatic toxicological concepts and principles, concentration-response relationships, criteria and approaches to single species laboratory tests and multispecies field studies, the importance of good laboratory practices, and considerations for analyzing and interpreting aquatic toxicity data. Special types of organismal and media tests will be discussed in addition to topics on biomarkers and biomonitoring, mathematical modeling, structure-activity relationships, and aquatic risk assessment.

CZMT 0651 Artificial Reefs in Marine Management: An overview /3 credits This is a seminar course that examines the historical and potential uses of artificial reefs in marine environments, with emphasis on fish ecology and management.

CZMT 0660 Marine Archaeology / 3 credits. The study of nautical antiquities, especially their detection and protection. Covers concepts related to the conservation of archaeological resources in the coastal zone, as well as techniques relevant to underwater excavation, removal, and preservation of marine artifacts.

CZMT 0662 Internship / 3 credits. Internship in a division of Broward County Department of Natural Resource Protection. Student shall devote 8-10 hours per week to the Internship. The student will be exposed to the regulatory and policy aspects of marine, freshwater, and coastal science. Emphasis will be on the Broward County Department of Natural Resource Protection's surface water quality assessment (estuarine to freshwater). Involvement in this position may also include participation in environmental restoration projects and/or sampling for enforcement cases. Student will also become familiar with groundwater and drinking supply issues. A project report or Term Paper will be required.

CZMT 0665 Environmental Sustainability / Choice for the Future / 3 credits. This web-based distance education course highlights more than twenty five years (1972 to present) of international discussion and debate with regard to the state of the environment and our actions towards it. Key considerations and voices are included from both the developed and developing world. Students participate in regular on-line closed discussion regarding issues such as "Limits to growth", ecology and the structure of the international system, prospects for international environmental cooperation, the case for and against free trade, the sustainable development debate, the potential for ecological conflict, empowerment, and questions of ecological justice. The emphasis is on presenting an international range of perspectives and case studies, linking already timely issues to up-to-the-moment occurrences and helping students to share and develop their own local responses to these issues.