MARINE FIELD ECOLOGY
Summer, 2014
Instructors:
Email:
Dr. Frank Jordan (7/1–7/18)
jordan@loyno.edu
Dr. Zack Darnell (7/21–8/1)
zachary.darnell@nicholls.edu
Class meetings:
7/21–8/1/2014, Monday through Friday: 2–3 hours of lecture and discussion per day, 4–5 hours of lab and field
activities per day.
Required text: None, see moodle for assigned readings.
Course description: Marine Field Ecology (4 credit hours) exams relationships of marine and estuarine organisms
to environmental factors; interactions among organisms; ecological processes of energy and materials flow; and
communities and ecosystems of the Louisiana coastal zone.
Group research projects: The second module of this course consists in large part of group research projects,
conducted by groups of 2–3 students. Research projects should be hypothesis-driven, and can include a mix of
experimental and observational approaches in the field and in the lab.
Grading: The course is divided into two two-week modules and you may earn up to 100 points in each module
for a total of 200 points. Your final grade will be determined by the percentage of 200 points that you earn and
based on the following scale: ≥ 90% = A, ≥ 80% = B, ≥ 70 % = C, ≥ 60% = D, < 60% = F.
Module 1 grading (Dr. Jordan):
Exams (60 pts total): There will be an exam on each of the two Fridays of the first module. These exams will
include material covered in lecture, during discussions, and during lab and field activities. Each of these
exams will consist of a pleasant mixture of true-false, multiple choice, matching, and short essay
questions. Each of these exams is worth 30 points.
Lab assignments (25 pts total): There will be several assignments associated with our lab and field activities. These
assignments will be worth a total of 25 points.
Notebook (5 pts): Each student is required to have a field notebook to record data (e.g., date and time, water
quality, sampling site descriptions, weather conditions) and species collected from each field trip and
species identified in the lab. Field notebooks will be graded at the end of each week. Your notebook is
worth 5 points.
Participation (10 pts): Your participation is worth 10 points.
Module 2 grading (Dr. Darnell):
Field notebook (20 pts): Each student is required to have a field notebook to record data (e.g., date and time, water
quality, sampling site descriptions, weather conditions) and species collected from each field trip and
species identified in the lab. Field notebooks will be graded at the end of each week.
Group project presentaiton (30 pts): At the conclusion of the term, each group will give a 15-min presentation on
their research projects.
Group project paper (30 pts): Each student will submit a research paper based on their research project. More
details will be given during class.
Participation (20 pts): This course has a large lab and field component, which requires student participation. Your
participation grade will be based on participation in the lab and in the field and will be negatively
impacted by not taking part in class activities, not contributing to your group research project, and
consistent absences.
Page 1 of 3
Updated July 20, 2014
Lecture and Lab schedule (subject to change):
Module 1
Date
Day
8-10 am
10-12 pm
1- 5 pm
8-9 pm
Lab or field activity
7/7
M
Lecture
Sampling
Sampling
Discuss paper 1
Trawling in back bay
7/8
T
Lecture
Sampling
Sampling
Discuss paper 2
Seining on barrier island
7/9
W
Lecture
Sampling
Sampling
Discuss paper 3
Throw trapping in pond
7/10
R
Lecture
Sampling
Sampling
Discuss paper 4
TBD
7/11
F
Study time
Exam
Clean up
7/14
M
Lecture
Sampling
Sampling
Discuss paper 5
7/15
T
Lecture
Sampling
Sampling
Discuss paper 6
7/16
W
Lecture
Sampling
Sampling
Discuss paper 7
7/17
R
Lecture
Sampling
Sampling
Discuss paper 8
7/18
F
Study time
Exam
Clean up
Sample processing / lab
clean up
Mississippi River delta
sampling
Mississippi River delta
sampling
Mississippi River delta
sampling
Mississippi River delta
sampling
Sample processing / lab
clean up
Module 2
Date
Day
Morning (8–12)
Afternoon (1–5)
Evening (8–9)
7/21
M
Discussion of hypothesisdriven research and
experimental design
Project brainstorming
Library research
7/22
T
R/V Acadiana- fish, crabs, and other macrofauna.
7/23
W
Exam from Module 1
7/24
R
Canoe trip into the marshfiddler crabs, periwinkles,
mud, and grass.
7/25
F
Group projects
Group projects
7/28
M
Group projects
Group projects
7/29
T
Group projects
Group projects
7/30
W
Data entry and analysis
TBA
7/31
R
Prep time for papers and
presentations
Prep time for papers and
presentations
8/1
F
Group presentations
Research papers due
Data analysis from first
field trip
Project discussionhypotheses and methods
Group projects
R/V Acadiana (time TBA)macrofauna at night.
Discussion of data analysis
and basic statisics
Discussion of writing and
presenting your research
Field notebooks due
Page 2 of 3
Updated July 20, 2014
Late Assignments
Assignments turned in late will incur a 10% penalty per day (including weekends). For example, an
assignment due on Thursday and turned in on Friday would be eligible for a maximum grade of 90%.
Assignments turned in on the due date but after the specified time will be considered 1 day late.
Page 3 of 3
Updated July 20, 2014