ENVI 121: Life in the Oceans Dr. Joe Gorga Office: ST 269 (x6817) MW T 9:30 – 10:30, or By Appointment Textbook: Marine Biology 6 th Edition Website:

Class Objectives To introduce the you to the organisms of the ocean, and to understand how they interact with each other and their environments You will need to learn the fundamental concepts of marine biology, and be able to make connections between subjects using critical thinking We will focus on phylogeny of marine organisms, and ecology of the oceans

Class Grades Grading Policy: Lecture: Midterm Exams (3)100 points each Final Exam (non-cumulative)100 points Homework and Participation50 points Total Lecture Points450 points Total Lab Points:350 Points Total Course Points800 points Grades will be based on a scale of: A= 90 – 100%, B= 80 – 90%, C= 70 – 80%, D= 60 – 70% and F= <60%. You must pass both the Lab and Lecture in order to pass the course

Why Study The Ocean?

Marine Biology The study of organisms that live in the ocean These organisms provide: food, medicines, raw materials, used for recreation, supports tourism –Estimated ocean’s living systems are worth over $20 trillion Marine Biology is related to Oceanography, particularly Biological Oceanographer –Where: Coastal and Open Oceans –Perspectives: Organisms and Environmental In order to understand the biology, we must understand the physical and chemical environment also

Scientific Method Inquiry: a search for information and explanations focusing on a specific question Descriptive Science: describes nature as accurately as possible –Inductive reasoning: go from specific to general Hypothesis-based Science: what are the natural causes and explanations of the observations we see –Must propose and test a hypothesis –Deductive reasoning: reasoning flows from general to specific

Scientific Method 1.Observation Careful; Include as many parameters as possible Observations  Induction  Hypothesis 2.Hypothesis Possible cause Reflect past experience (educated guess) Multiple (consider alternative explanations) Testable Falsifiable 3.Prediction Hypothesis/Principle  Deduction  Prediction 4.Experiment Experimental group, Control group, Replication 5.Results/Interpretation 6.Scientific Theory

Scientific Method: Case Study

Scientific Method Field Observations vs. Controlled Experiments 1.Field Observations (in situ) Natural setting Uncontrolled variables Examples? 2.Controlled Experiment (usually ex situ) Fewer uncontrolled variables Test one or a few variable(s) at a time Artificial setting (especially ex situ)

Scientific Method