(V2 Session dates: 21 January-11 February 2008)
In this unit students will be introduced to Tropical Marine Ecosystems in situ in the South Pacific. This is an intensive three week vacation program based at the University of the South Pacific's Institute of Marine Resources.
This unit has been designed to complement its sister unit, GEOS428 (Coral reef dynamics). GEOS428 has an intensive practical focus on the science of coral reef formation and biotic interactions. BIOL245, by contrast, places a strong emphasis on a cross-disciplinary approach to studying South Pacific marine ecosystems.
Tropical marine environments will be studied using a four module schema. The oceanography and geological history of the South Pacific islands will be the focus of the first module. The second module will examine the biodiversity of tropical marine fauna and flora in South Pacific.
In the third module, tropical marine ecosystems at a large scale are studied. Finally, the fourth module will look at the harvesting and conservation of coral reef environments with a particular focus on how cultural issues interplay with the science of sustainability. Dates for this unit may be obtained from the Department.
