Coastal and Wetland Ecology and Management – NREM 665
Catalog Description: The study of bogs, marshes, mangroves, sea grass beds, and coral reefs.
Emphasis on the hydrology, biogeochemistry, physiology, productivity, and community dynamics of these systems. Response to perturbations and management strategies will also be discussed.
Instructor: Dr. Greg Bruland
Office Phone: (808) 956-8901
Office: Sherman Lab, Room 226
Email: bruland@hawaii.edu
Website: http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/brulandg/
Class Meetings: Tues. and Thurs. 9:00-10:15 PM, AgSci 220
Office Hours: Tues. 2:45-3:45 PM, Wed. 2:30-3:30 PM
Prerequisites : Advanced undergraduate coursework in hydrology, soils, and ecosystem ecology are recommended.
Required Texts:
Mitsch, W.J. and J.G. Gosselink. 2000. Wetlands, 3rd Ed .
John Wiley, New York, NY.
Mann, K.H. 2000. Ecology of Coastal Waters with Implications for Management , 2nd Ed.
Blackwell Science, Malden, MA.
Optional Text:
Cowardin, L.M., V. Carter, F.C. Golet, and E.T. LaRoe. 1979. Classification of Wetlands and
Deepwater Habitats of the U.S. FW/OBS-79/31, Washington, D.C. USA.
Course Objectives:
Upon completion of this course you should:

Understand of the historical context and current status of coastal and wetland ecosystems

Be able to discuss verbally and in writing the functions and values of coastal and wetland ecosystems

Gain an in-depth knowledge on wetland and coastal ecosystems (i.e. structure) and their hydrology, biogeochemistry, productivity, physiology, and community dynamics

Know how to classify wetlands and deepwater habitats according to the USFWS classification system, calculate a water budget, balance redox reactions, assess the health of wetlands, sea grass beds and coral reefs

Be familiar with current issues in coastal and wetland management such as TMDL development, land-based threats to coastal zones, ecological restoration, and integrated watershed management

Be able to analyze resource problems for coastal and wetland ecosystems and suggest appropriate management strategies
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Expectations of Students: I expect that you will do the assigned readings prior to lectures. I expect that you will arrive to class activities on time, with the proper equipment, and that you will be respectful of your fellow students and me during all class activities. I expect you to be an active participant in class activities by taking notes, asking questions, and working with the other students in the course.
Expectations of the Instructor: My goal as an instructor is to make this course as enjoyable and useful to you as possible through a variety of methods such as lectures, readings, homework assignments, discussions, exams, a field trip, and a final project. I will accomplish this by being punctual and prepared for course activities and enthusiastic about my duties as an instructor. I will communicate clearly about course objectives, policies, and assignments and listen carefully to your questions and concerns. I will grade assignments and exams fairly and return them in a timely manner. Finally I will be available during my office hours to provide additional assistance.
Course Activities: Include lectures by the instructor, guest lectures, readings from the textbook and scientific papers, videos, in-class discussions of current literature, problem sets, exams, a field trip, and a final project.
Classic and Current Literature Discussions: Throughout the semester we will take time to discuss classic and current papers from the field of coastal and wetland ecology and management as a class.
Problem Sets: Student will be assigned 3-4 problem set throughout the semester to learn how to use the Cowardin Classification System, make quantitative hydrologic calculations, balance oxidation-reduction reactions, and apply knowledge from lectures, discussions, and readings to issues in wetland and coastal management.
Midterm Exams: There will be two in-class midterm examinations that will be given throughout the semester. They will consist of multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, matching, short answer, quantitative calculation, and essay questions. See Course Schedule for dates.
Final Project: Students will work individually on a final project. The project will consist of researching a current issue in coastal and wetland management of the students’ choice. You will present your findings to the class in an oral presentation at the end of the semester as well as write up a < 20 page final report in scientific journal or M.S./Ph.D. thesis type style; see graduate division website.
Grading :
Activity
Participation
Quantity % of Grade
5
Discussions
Problem Sets
Exams
Final Project
5-6
3-4
2
1
5
20
40
30
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Participation: The participation grade will be determined throughout the semester based on attendance, punctuality, attitude, enthusiasm, and participation in course activities.
Letter grades will be assigned on the plus/minus system with grades assigned approximately as follows: > 90 % = A, 80-89 % = B, 70-79 % = C, etc.
Other Course Policies:
Late Assignments: Problem set grades will decrease by one level (A to A- or C- to D+) each day following the due date. Assignments will not be accepted more than 5 days after the due date.
Excused Absences: In case of emergency extensions or absences, the instructor will need to be contacted prior to the due date of the assignment or exam. In such cases, extensions may be granted on an individual basis. Students will be expected to hand in assignments or take quizzes or exams upon their return and will need to schedule a time outside of class to make this work up with the instructor.
Final Caveat: All material on this syllabus is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor to suite the needs of the course.
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Week
(Date)
1 (8-21)
Lecture/Discussion Topic
Introductions, go over syllabus
Reading Assignment(s) to be completed prior to class sessions
1 (8-23)
2 (8-28)
2 (8-30)
3 (9-4)
3 (9-6)
Historical Background, Overview of
Wetland and Coastal Ecosystem
Definitions
Global Distribution, Abundance and
M&G: Chap. 1
M&G: Chap. 2
Loss
Ecosystem Functions and Values M&G: Ch. 16
Discussion: Richardson 1995 or TBD
Wetland Formation and Development M&G: Chap. 3
Wetland Classification M&G: Chap. 21;
Cowardin: Wetlands
M&G: Chap. 5
M&G: Chap. 6
4 (9-11)
4 (9-13)
5 (9-18)
5 (9-20)
6 (9-25)
6 (9-27)
Wetland Hydrology
Wetland Soils
Discussion: Bruland et al. 2006 or TBD
Redox Chemistry
Biogeochemistry of C
Biogeochemistry of N and P
Wetland Physiology and Primary
Productivity
Discussion: Mendelssohn et al. 1984 or
TBD
7 (10-2)
7 (10-4)
8 (10-9)
Community Dynamics, Succession
Salt Marshes and Mangroves
Discussion: Silliman et al. 2006 or TBD
8 (10-11) Catch-up and Review
9 (10-16) EXAM I
9 (10-18) Sea Grass and Coral Reef Formation and Development, and Classification
10 (10-23) Sea Grass and Reef Hydrodynamics
10 (10-25) Sea Grass and Reef Biogeochemistry
M&G: Chap. 6
M&G: Chap. 6
M&G: Chap. 6
M&G: Chap. 7
TBD
M&G: Chap. 8
M&G: Chap. 12, 13; Mann
Chap. 3, 4
Mann Chap. 6.
Mann Chap. 5, 16;
Cowardin: Deepwater
Habitats
11 (10-30) Sea Grass and Reef Physiology and
Productivity
11 (11-1) Sea Grass and Reef Community
Dynamics
12 (11-6) Estuaries, Sea Grass Types, Fringing
Mann Chap. 6.
Mann Chap. 7, 8, 9
Mann Chap. 6, 10
Other
Complete student survey
PS 1 Due
PS 2 Due
PS 3 Due
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Reefs, Barrier Reefs, and Atolls
12 (11-8) Land-based Threats to Coastal Zones
Discussion: Wolanksi & Spagnol 2000
13 (11-13) Wetland, Sea Grass and Reef Policy
13 (11-15) Wetland, Sea Grass and Reef
Management I:
TBD
M&G 17 and 18
M&G Chap. 19
14 (11-20) Catch-up and Review
14 (11-22) EXAMINATION II
15 (11-27) Wetland, Sea Grass, and Reef
Restoration
Discussion: Craft et al. 1999 or TBD
15 (11-29) Integrated Watershed Management
16 (12-4) Case Study / Final Project Presentations
Mann Chap. 18
PS 4 Due
16 (12-6) Final Project Presentations
17 (12-11) Final Project Presentations / Course
Evaluation
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TBD = To Be Determined, based on interests and background of students, pacing of the course, etc. For some topics no readings may be assigned, for others, more than 1 reading may be assigned.
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These are tentative due dates for the Problem Sets. They may be changed if needed.
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