Marine Plankton Ecology Course

Instructor: Dr. Astrid Schnetzer (North Carolina State University)

Marine phytoplankton and zooplankton are essential components of all marine food webs and comprise of uniquely diverse and intriguing organisms – from unicellular microalgae to bioluminescent gelatinous jellies  . We will examine taxonomy, functional diversity and the roles that phyto-and zooplankton play in marine food webs, from onshore habitats (i.e. coral reef) to the open ocean (Sargasso Sea). Students will gain hands on experience sampling a broad range of plankton types during boat and shore-based excursions and conduct growth and feeding experiments to examine trophic dynamics using observational techniques, traditional microscopy and molecular approaches. Lectures and laboratories will cover a broad range of relevant topics and ecological principles in plankton ecology. This course is upper level undergraduate and graduate students. Prerequisites include moderate to advanced swimming ability and satisfactory standing in marine ecology courses.

June 12 – July 1, 2016