MARS 406 - Coral Reef Ecology

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Examination of ecology and evolution of coral reef communities, seagrass beds, and mangrove swamps, with exploration of such issues as the degradation of reef-building corals by macroalgae, hurricanes, coral bleaching, diseases of corals and sea urchins, overfishing, and pollution. Students participate in lectures and field exercises in the vicinity of Dauphin Island, and take a one-week field trip to Andros Island, Bahamas. Prereq: A course in either undergraduate biology or ecology. See Instructor.