Syllabus

Course Description

Estuarine Geography utilizes an ecological approach to understanding physical and biological parameters to estuarine evolution.. Superimposed upon that spatial site and situation are social, human, cultural and political activities. Humans role in estuarine evolution is discussed at length.

The course begins with the geomorphology, geochemistry and Geography of estuaries. These abiotic factors are introduced as limits or catalysts to the biota, both plants and animals. Aspects of the environment are examined in terms of spatial and other geographic controls from global to local sites.

The discussions will center, in turn, upon the wetlands, salt marsh, mangrove swamp and coral islands. Benthic flora and fauna will be studied with specific relationship to abiotic constraints/controls. It is necessary to examine the role of both the aerobic and anaerobic decomposers in the estuarine detritus. Specific organisms, spatial locations and geoconstraints become critical in this process. Classroom field trips will be taken.

The role of the estuary as a nursery for nekton, birds, mammals, and reptiles will be examined especially in terms of geographic controls. Local anadromous/catadromous fish such as the salmon, shad, alewife, herring and eel will be examined spatially. The migration of lobsters seasonally will also be examined.

Course Objectives

Prerequisites

None.

Required Textbooks

Text: Mann, K.H., Ecology of Coastal Waters, 2nd, Blackwell Science, Malden, MA. 2000

Copyright ©2010 John F. Looney Jr., Ed.D
Citation: Looney, J. F. (2009, August 03). Syllabus. Retrieved November 06, 2014, from UMass Boston OpenCourseware Web site: http://ocw.umb.edu/environmental-earth-and-ocean-sciences/eeos-327-estuarine-geography-e-g-sci/syllabus.
Copyright 2014, John F. Looney. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License. Creative Commons License