11:628:320 Dynamics of Marine Ecosystems 2015 Instructors: Liz Sikes (geochemistry) 848-932-3257 sikes@marine.rutgers.edu Heidi Fuchs (biology) 848-932-3252 hfuchs@marine.rutgers.edu John Wilkin (physics) 848-932-3366 jwilkin@rutgers.edu TA: Alex Lopez alopez@marine.rutgers.edu 848-932-3365 Class web site: http://marine.rutgers.edu/dmcs/ms320

Class Philosophy: Oceanography is an interdisciplinary scientific field. The physics, chemistry and biology are all coupled. Therefore teaching the physics, biology and chemistry as separate sections does a poor job to explain the how the World Ocean works. We will try hard to explain the physics, chemistry and biology, while emphasizing the interactions between them. This will be accomplished by focusing a series of lectures on themes: Theme 1. Vertical structure of the open ocean Theme 2: Coastal Upwelling Theme 3: Equatorial Circulation and El Nino Theme 4: Land-ocean interaction Theme 5: Global climate system

Home work: Home work assignments are handed out for each section. The home work might have essays, calculations etc. It will be more than just a short answer. You will have at least a week to do the home work. Examples of past homework assignments: Consider the simple 3-box NPZ (nutrient-phytoplankton-zooplankton) model described in class. Question: describe your understanding of each of the numbered terms in the N equation. Describe the physical, biological and geochemical features that are typical of the major eastern boundary coastal upwelling regions of the world. Come to class – listen – take notes – ask questions – think – ask more questions – and you will comprehend the interactions between physics, geochemistry and ecology that are so vital to the Dynamics of Marine Ecosystems

Attendance: the data

Grading Totals 4 exams: 15% each 60% 4 home works: 5% each 20% 1 review paper: 20% 20% Exams: Cover the material provided in class. Not cumulative (though concepts may be). Last exam will be on the final day. Homework: Do them all. Late homework will lose precious points even if only a day late. Term paper: 1) interdisciplinary topics, 2) must be connected to an aspect covered in the course, 3) must demonstrate linkages between at least 2 disciplines, 4) must use recent (5 years) PRIMARY literature, 5) must get topic cleared with an instructor. Examples: marine mammal foraging at shelf/slope front, iron fertilization, CO2 increase and coral reefs. Be original but not extreme. Reference your work thoroughly (Do NOT plagiarize). Pop quizzes: Extra credit that gets added to homework if you don’t get a perfect score. (These quizzes help US and you.)