GEOS 211/503: Field Studies in Geoscience: Geology of the Bahamas
Intersession in the Bahamas
Jan. 3-11, 2008
Instructor: Dr. Deborah Freile
Office: Rossey 613
Tel.: 201.200-3188
e-mail: dfreile@njcu.edu
GEOS 211 is a course open to any students with one course in geoscience as a prerequisite
GEOS 503 is a graduate level course, which will have additional assignments
Course Description
A field-oriented, hands-on course to examine the geology and biology associated with modern and ancient reef environments and the natural
history of their surrounding coastal areas. An investigation of the diverse carbonate sediment-producing, modern environments typical of the
Bahamas. An exploration a variety of shallow subtidal environments, coral reefs, lagoons, beaches, dunes and salt water lakes. Emphasis on
human impacts on this fragile ecosystem and the role that reefs play in global systems change will also be explored. Lectures are designed to
provide information useful in completing field assignments and to provide the necessary background to appreciate characteristics of the island.
Suggested Textbooks (purchase one or more of the following)
A Field Guide to Coral Reefs of the Caribbean and Florida (Peterson) by Eugene H. Kaplan
A Field Guide to Southeastern and Caribbean Seashores (Peterson) by Eugene H. Kaplan
National Audubon Society Field Guide to Shells (Knoff) by Harald Rehder
National Audubon Society Field Guide to Tropical Fish (Knoff) by Harald Rehder
Reef Coral Identification: Florida Caribbean Bahamas (New World Publications) by Paul Humann
Reef Creature Identification: Florida Caribbean Bahamas (New World Publications) by Paul Humann
Students’ Bibliography (Students might one to consult one or more of these books which will be on reserve during Nov. & Dec.)
Bahamian Landscapes: An Introduction to the Geography of the Bahamas, Neil Sealey, 2nd Ed., Media Publishing (1994)
Reef Fishes, Corals and Invertebrates of the Caribbean: A Diver’s Guide, Elizabeth Wood and Lawson Wood, Passport Books (2000)
Snorkeling Guide to Marine Life: Florida Caribbean Bahamas, Paul Humann and Ned Loach, New World Publications Inc. (1995)
Terrestrial and Shallow Marine Geology of the Bahamas and Bermuda, Allen Curran and Brian White (Eds.), Geological Society of America
Special Paper #300 (1995)
Publications from the Field Station (BFS, GRC)
Field Guide to Common Marine Algae of San Salvador Island, Bahamas, Joseph Richardson and Ginger Mitchell, (1994)
Field Guide to the Invertebrates of San Salvador Island, Bahamas, F Diehl, D. Mellon, R. Garrett, N. Elliot, (1988)
Guide to Bahamian Ichnology: Pleistocene, Holocene, and Modern Environments, H. Allen Curran (Ed), (1997)
In Columbus’s Footsteps: Geography of San Salvador Island, The Bahamas, Ronald Shaklee (1994)
Natural History of Northeastern San Salvador Island: A “New World” where the New World Began, Paul Godfrey, Craig Edwards, Laurence
Davis, Robert Smith, (1994)
Weather and Climate San Salvador Island, Bahamas, Ronald Shaklee, (1996)
Objectives
This course is a hands-on examination of present and past environments of deposition and ecosystems present on San Salvador
Island, Bahamas. Lectures are designed to provide information useful in completing field assignments and to provide the necessary
background to appreciate characteristics of the island.
1. To understand the geology of the Bahamas within the context of the Florida-Bahamas platform and plate tectonic
2. To understand modern reefs and other sedimentary environments and their fossil analogues
3. To gain knowledge of depositional modes in the Holocene and Pleistocene and the links between modern (Holocene) and ancient
(Pleistocene) processes
4. To understand the geologic history of San Salvador Island and to be able to interpret carbonate sequences in the context of modern
environments.
5. To gain an understanding of the abiotic factors influencing community structure and ecosystems on San Salvador.
6. To comprehend the concepts of evolution, niche partitioning, disturbance and other forces that shape the diversity of reef
environments.
7. To gain experience collecting and analyzing data.
8. To observe the ways human activity has impacted communities and ecosystems.
9. To observe and document the ways Bahamians utilize natural resources and interact with the island environment.
Course Schedule
This course is a combination of lectures during the evenings, laboratory identification of specimens, and site visits during the morning
and afternoon. The schedule may change do to weather or other problems.
December
January
Thurs 03
Fri
04
Sat
05
Sun
06
Mon
07
Tues
08
Wed
09
Thu
10
Fri
11
TBA- Introduction to course/ Swim test and practice snorkel at the NJCU pool-
Morning: Leave for San Salvador
Afternoon: Snorkle Graham’s Harbor- Grassbeds
Evening Lecture: Brief Geological History of the Bahamas
Morning: Cockburn Town Fossil Reef (transect); Museum
Afternoon- Snorkel at Telephone Pole Reef (modern analogue) or Monument Beach and Reef
Evening Lecture-Fish Diversity in Reefs
Morning- Pigeon Creek Indian site/ Fortune Hill Plantation
Afternoon-French Bay or Lindsey Reef;
Evening Lecture-Reef Zonation/ Sponge and Cnidarian Lecture
Morning-Inland Lakes (Hypersaline Environments)/
Afternoon- Boat Trip to Gaulin Reef
Evening- Coral Diversity/ Coral Didease/ Global Climate Change
Morning- Storr’s Lake and Lighthouse Cave
Afternoon-Beach clean-up and Landfill
Evening Lecture: Origin of Life and Stromatolites
Morning- Sandy Point (beach profiling and map making)/ Watlings Castle
Afternoon-Snow Bay
Evening Lecture- Algae and calcareous algae sedimentation
Morning- Mr. Forbes “Bush Medicine” talk and demonstration (or)
Afternoon- Rocky Point Soft Coral Reef and Sand Dollar Beach/ Trace Fossils and North Point
Evening Lecture- Trace fossils
Morning- Community Service
Afternoon- FREE
Evening- Student Presentations and Final Exam
Leave for US
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Attendance: Students MUST attend ALL field excursions while in San Salvador, Bahamas and MUST attend ALL evening lectures at the
Gerace Research Center. Failure to attend ALL field excursions and ALL lectures will result in a 10 point penalty for each activity missed in
the final grade. (Medical excuses will be REQUIRED to excuse a student from participation in field excursions or evening lectures.). THIS
MEANS DO NOT GET SUNBURNED_ ALWAYS SLATHER ON UV PROTECTION CONSTANTLY!!! AND DO NOT GET
CARRIED AWAY AT THE SHORTSTOP THE NIGHT BEFORE!!!
Student Presentation (BEFORE YOU GO):
Do some research on your own on landfills and waste disposal on tropical carbonate islands. Download or otherwise have this info available
to you for access. Make a short, 3 minute presentation on this topic in a PowerPoint presentation to share with the rest of the class.
Methods of Instruction: This course will employ the following pedagogic techniques:
1. Lecture and class discussion of material.
2. Visual instruction in the form of PowerPoint slides.
3. Invited Speakers
4. Audio visual instruction in the form of specific VHS/DVD tapes.
5. Field lectures and applied problem solving skills and analysis.
6. Testing.
7. Field Journal writing.
8. Report writing (for GEOS 503).
Evaluation Components and Grading Scale
Students are expected:
1) To keep a field data notebook. During their time in the Bahamas, students are to properly document all observations about the
island, environment, landscape, people, culture, diseases, flora, fauna, food, etc, record data collections and identifications as well as
lecture material. Your field data notebook MUST contain scientific observations (facts, data) about the Bahamas & the
phenomena listed above as well as an interview with a local inhabitant. You should be taking notes and photographs IN
THE FIELD. These notes, along with material we cover in lecture, should be the content of your field notebook,
2) Prepare a CD-ROM collection of photographs of properly identified features (Biota and other observed features). These 2
assignments constitute 75% grade for GEOS 211 and 60% of grade for GEOS 503.
3) 3 field assignments while at the Bahamas (15% grade).
4) For GEOS 503 Typed Report (15% of grade;) and
5) Final Exam (10% grade).
YOUR FIELD NOTEBOOK, CD-ROM, and REPORT for GEOS 530 WILL BE DUE IN MY OFFICE BY MONDAY January 14th NO
EXEPTIONS
.
YOUR WORK WILL BE GRADED BASED ON YOUR LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE.
Grading Scale:
94-100
90-93
86-89
83-85
78-82
75-77
A
AB+
B
BC+
71-74
68-70
65-67
56-64
<55
C
CD+
D
F
ASSIGNMENTS: The field assignments will consists of 1) plant and animal identification questions 2) the fossil/modern reef analoque and
3) a cultural assignment. The final exam will consist of the following types of questions- multiple choice, true or false, short answer, and
diagrams to label.
Comparison of Fossil Reef and Extant Reef (Telephone Pole Reef)
examine and make notes on the composition of corals and preserved mollusks on the Cockburn Fossil Reef. We will measure the sequence of
carbonate rocks present at Cockburn Fossil Reef. Later that day we will snorkel at Telephone Pole Reef. How do the fossil and extant reefs
compare? What environments do you see preserved in the fossil reef sequence and where are these environments today in relation to
Telephone Pole Reef? We will not see fossil sea grass beds in Cockburn. However, we will see them on the Inland Loop Trail. What
indicator organism is present in the fossil sea grass bed? By the way, sea grasses are preserved?
CULTURAL ASSIGNMENT You will be required to summarize one conversation you had with an individual from San Salvador. This
individual should not be a visitor to the field station and should be somebody who has established residency on the island. In the past,
individuals have interviewed teachers, clergy, owners of shops, employees of Riding Rock, or utility employees.
Expected Outcomes: After completing this course the student is expected to have a solid understanding of ancient and modern reef systems
and their importance within the biological and physical earth system. Its component parts and the integration of the aforementioned parts into
a cohesive whole. The student will be able to explain processes of reef development and reefs over geologic time. The student will also have
developed skills in identifying reef animal and plant life. The students will have made a useful contribution to the success of their
understanding of science and scientific principles and their application to the world around them. Students will also have a broader
understanding of the 3rd world and its problems and have completed a community project while at San Salvador.
Participation: Class participation is an important part of the learning process. Participation in class is highly encouraged and variations in
points of view are welcomed.
Academic Dishonesty: Students are expected to demonstrate academic integrity at all times. NJCU condemns cheating and plagiarism in any
form. Plagiarism is defined as intentionally using the ideas, knowledge, words, and/or visual images of another individual as if those were
original to the writer or speaker (INCLUDING THE IMPROPER CITATION OF THOSE WORKS USED); and any other forms of deceit in
relation to the student’s affiliation with and commitment to the university. [According to the Student Rights and Responsibilities: Code of
Conduct- Some specific activities that are not to be tolerated on the campus are: (7). Fraud in any for, whether it be altering or changing
University records, or cheating in any form. Prohibited activities include (12). Academic dishonesty (a). Plagiarism, cheating (b). Use of
term papers or reports not completely prepared by the student. In this course any student caught cheating on any test or plagiarizing any
work will receive an ‘F’ for the entire course.
Report (for GEOS 530): You will be required to write a 4 to 6 page typed paper with full references, tables and figures; structured and
organized in a manner consistent with scientific writing. This paper can be on any topic listed below or any other topic with prior approval
of the instructor.
Course Resouces: The paper readings, library holdings at the Gerace Field Station and the instructor all can provide you with background
information useful for completing the class activities.
Potential Topics:
Predation of Corals by Parrot Fish (sedimentation-bioerosion)
The Mangrove Ecosystem (zonation-salinity)
Common Green and Red Calcareous Algae of the Bahamas (importance to sedimentation)
Coral Reef Bleaching: Causes and Consequences
Environmental Education as applied to Coral Reefs
Pleistocene Reefs of San Salvador (stratigraphy and diversity)
Development of Caves and Sinkholes on San Salvador
Comparison of Beach Topography as it Relates to Wave Energy on San Salvador
Geologic History and Formation of the Bahamas
Bahamian Blue Holes
The Natural History of Strombus gigas: Good to eat or extinction prone
Water Resources in San Salvador
Calcareous Algal growth rates in shallow tropical waters
Length:
4-6 pages, doubled spaced with a one-(1) inch margin and a 10 or 12 point font size.
The paper must contain at least 4 pages of text.
Sources
At least 8 references must be used. You cannot use more than 2 textbooks or 3 Internet sources as references. At
least 2 reference MUST come from refereed scientific journal.
Formatting:
Proper formatting (non-MLA) must be followed; see below
Grading Criteria: Content
30%
Clarity and fluidity
10%
Structure: Introduction; body; conclusion
and appropriate headings and subheadings
10%
Proper formatting
10%
Tables, figures and charts
15%
Bibliography
15%
Grammar and spelling
10%
This paper has to be written in a scientific manner. This means following the APA style, not MLA. A handy book to obtain is A Pocket Style
Manual 2nd. Ed., by Diana Hacker (Bedford Books). References should be cited within the paragraphs for an idea that is not yours [i.e.
According to Smith (1995) the concentration of sulfur in............. or The concentration of sulfur was determine to be ........ (Smith, 1995)].
Several figures should be included in your paper to illustrate your points. Do NOT take paragraphs out of books or articles ‘as is’, always
paraphrase or summarize the information and reference it. I do not want to see a string of quotes from other writers linked together with
‘and’, ‘while’, ‘however’, and other such conjunctions. Do not use footnotes. They are not used in the sciences. At the end of the paper
provide a bibliography of all material used and cited. The following format should be used when writing the bibliography:
In case of an article in a journal:
Author last name, First name, date. Title of article (small letters; except for proper nouns), Journal (italicized) vol., number, pages.
[i.e.: Smith, John, J., 1995, Sulfur determinations in natural waters, Journal of Hydrology, vol. 32, no. 4, p. 34-56.]
In case of a book:
Author last name, First name, date. Title of Book, Edition, Publisher, City, Total pages.
[i.e.: Smith, John, J., 1995, Geochemistry of Natural Waters, Second Edition, Mark University Press, Harmony, MN, 295 pp.]
If you have any questions, regarding these or other instructions please ask