BIOL
399: Coral Reef Biology Description
of activities
1. The first week of class will be held at Salisbury University. Students will become
familiar with primary scientific literature relating to the Coral Reef environment.
2. Reef Fish Identification
Close observation and good eyes can enable you
to observe in excess of 60
different reef fish on any given dive. The key is being able to identify
them.
Through a series of slides, the most commonly observed fish species
will be discussed.
Key identifying characteristics will be addressed as
well as some of the more fascinating biological
characteristics and
behaviors of these marine organisms and how they
interact with each other
and their environment.
3. Coral Reef Ecology
For many students, this will be the first
experience in a tropical marine
ecosystem. This
lecture provides an introduction to coral, their anatomy,
feeding and reproductive strategies, growth
requirements, reef development
and unique structural formations found on
Roatan. Threats to coral and the
status of the reefs in Roatan will also be addressed. Depending upon your
group’s background and prior instruction, this
lecture may serve as an
excellent refresher or as new material.
4. Coral Identification
Utilizing slides by Paul Human, we will
identify the major coral species in
Roatan and unique
identifying characteristics. Hexacorallians and
Octocorallians will be included. A lab in which coral species can be keyed
out by looking at skeletal samples may accompany
this lecture. Coral ID
and Reef Ecology can be combined into one
condensed lecture if desired
5. Dolphin Swim
Students will have to unique experience of
being able to swim with captive dolphins. Only seven students at one time are
permitted in with the dolphins. While half the class is swimming with the
dolphins the other half will be going by boat to a unique coral reef habitat.
6. Marine Invertebrate Identification
Over 2 million species of organisms have been
described in the Animal
Kingdom.
Invertebrates make up 95% of them.
This fact is most important in
the oceans where they make up over 88% of the
multi-cellular species. Most
people don’t appreciate these critters nearly as
much as they should.
Utilizing slides, we will identify some of the
diverse and unrelated
creatures that make up the marine invertebrates. Nine of the major phyla of
marine invertebrates and the more commonly seen
species will be discussed.
7. Dolphin Platform Session
The Roatan Institute of Marine Sciences houses
captive and semi-wild cetaceans. Students will be able to observe these animals
and learn from the trainers and researchers about cetacean anatomy, physiology,
senses, cognition, behavior, and conservation
8. Mangrove Biology
Mangroves form extremely important coastal
communities on this island.
Lecture will define mangroves and discuss the
most dominant species on
Roatan, their distribution, physiology,
identifying features and their many
important functions.
We will also discuss how integrally tied mangroves and
coral reefs are to each other. This material is most effectively covered at
Man-O-War Key where there is an extensive
stand of mangroves and tidal
creeks in which direct observation can be made.
9. Plankton Identification
Utilizing a well supplied laboratory, students
will be able to collect, observe, and identify tropical marine plankton.
10. Aquatic Vegetation and Sponges
In addition to healthy and beautiful reefs,
Roatan also has seagrass communities and sponge beds. Students will have the
opportunity to identify “seaweeds” and sponges, and learn the difference
between submerged aquatic vegetation and macro algae.
11. Terrestrial - Aquatic Connections
A hike from