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Appledore Island, Isle of Shoals, Kittery, Maine
t: 603.964.9011 • shoals.lab@unh.edu • shoalsmarinelaboratory.org
Shoals Marine Laboratory
Marine Environmental Science (BIOSM 1620; Section 1)
22 June - 6 July 2015
Course Syllabus and Schedule
Faculty: Elizabeth Halliday, PhD (halliday.elizabeth@gmail.com)
Teaching Assistants: Maureen Healy and Luke Violette
Prerequisites: Two year-long high school courses in science, and completion of grades 10, 11 or 12
Class enrollment limit: 21
Credit: 3 credits through Cornell
Course Objectives/Goals:
Environmental studies have become an integral component of high school programs all around the
country; however, opportunities to apply this course work to the marine environment are limited. Marine
Environmental Science will explore the diversity of coastal marine habitats and ecosystems and the tools
scientists use to study them, with an emphasis on topics related to human impacts and environmental health.
Fieldwork will include explorations along Appledore’s rocky intertidal zone, excursions to neighboring
islands to observe seal and seabird colonies, and offshore trips to practice oceanographic sampling techniques
and observe whale foraging grounds. Laboratory exercises will include observation and identification of
plankton under the microscope, and familiarization with invertebrate and vertebrate adaptations through
observation and dissection. Lectures and discussions will expose students to topics in marine ecology,
oceanography, and climate science. Finally, we will study how humans have impacted the ocean and discuss
how we can be stewards of marine ecosystems.
A major component of this course is a group research project, in which students are expected to apply
the scientific methods they have practiced in the field and lab to address a research question of their own
design on Appledore.
Course Materials:
If possible, we highly recommend bringing a laptop computer for writing papers. Lecture notes can be
taken on a laptop or by hand, but should be kept in a single file or notebook for access during the Final Exam.
We also require sturdy, close-toed shoes (or muck boots) for work in the intertidal zone.
Assignments & Grading:
Shoals Marine Laboratory on Appledore Island, Isles of Shoals, Maine: Dedicated to undergraduate education and research in marine science since 1966
a. Required Assignments: Each student will write one Laboratory Report, constituting 20% of the
final grade. Within small groups, each student will also design and carry out a research project
that will constitute 30% of the final grade (20% based on individual research paper, 10% based
on group oral presentation). Rubrics will be provided for all required assignments so all
expectations for grading are clear.
b. Exams: There will be a Laboratory Practical exam, constituting 20% of the final grade, and a
Final (open-note) Exam also constituting 20% of the final grade. Mandatory group study
sessions will precede both exams.
c. Full and active participation, including active reading of four articles and preparation for a class
debate, constitutes 10% of the final grade.
Expectations and Conduct:
Students are responsible for fully understanding all of the information presented in this syllabus. If there
are any questions regarding this information, it is the student’s responsibility to bring it to the instructor’s
attention. In addition, students are responsible for attending all activities associated with this course and
completing all assignments. Students are responsible for asking questions anytime they need clarification
(remember, there is no such thing as a bad question).
Every student is responsible for their own behavior- specifically in being respectful and collegial to other
students and with instructors. Students are responsible for fully understanding and adhering all of the
information presented in the SML Appledore Handbook (http://www.sml.cornell.edu/sml_forms.html)
1. Personal Technology. Do not use cell phones, smart phones, iPads, mp3 players,
headphones, or similar devices in the classroom or during course activities. If you take notes
with your computer, disable wireless access during lecture.
2. The lab has a modest computer facility in Laighton Library; please treat this shared facility
with respect. Printers are available, but please limit printing to your FINAL document (if
required).
3. Transmission of Course Materials. Students are not authorized to replicate, reproduce, copy
or transmit lectures and course materials presented, or derivative materials including class
notes, for sale or free distribution to others without written consent of the instructors who are
the original source of the materials.
4. Academic Integrity. Any work submitted must be your own. Uncredited use of another
person’s words, data or images is considered plagiarism, a serious violation of the Code,
whether the material comes from another student, a web site, or a published paper.
Students must adhere to Cornell’s and UNH’s Policy for Academic Honesty/Plagiarism and
Discrimination
A. Cornell: http://cuinfo.cornell.edu/aic.cfm
B. UNH: http://www.unh.edu/vpsas/handbook/welcome-university-new-hampshire
5. Disabilities & ADA Accommodation: Students with a disability must contact Cornell’s (420
CCC building; 607-254-4545) or UNH’s Student Disability
Serviceshttp://www.unh.edu/disabilityservices) four weeks prior to start of class for
confidential discussion of needs and for registration to verify eligibility for academic
accommodations. No retroactive accommodations can be made.
6. Mental Health: Shoals Marine Laboratory cares about you and your well-being. If you
experience unusual personal or academic stress during the course or need to talk with
someone about a personal problem, seek support from your instructors as soon as possible.
In addition, any SML staff is available for consultation 24/7. Find staff in the office in the
Hamilton House between 8am – 7pm or knock on the door of Bartell House after hours
Schedule: Daily schedules at Shoals Marine Laboratory are flexible in order to accommodate predictable
events (e.g. tides), to take advantage of unforeseen opportunities to experience the marine environment, and
to participate in campus-wide marine science lectures and field opportunities. MES’s daily routine may include
early morning collecting trips to the intertidal zone.
Three meals are served on the island each day, except Sunday, when schedules are more relaxed and begin
after a mid-morning brunch. Between meals, students should expect to be fully engaged in lectures, fieldwork,
and laboratory exercises each day. After dinner and outside of formal class hours, students may be expected
to study for the lab practical, work on research projects, or attend guest lectures.
Island Life: Days on Appledore are filled with academic endeavors, but students do have free time around
meals when they can use the island’s volleyball court, swimming area, or library. SML encourages MES
participants to interact with the entire island community. Musicians should feel free to bring an instrument to
the island and share a song with other students, faculty and staff. Additionally, one morning or afternoon each
week, students join in a general cleaning of the island and its facilities.
Daily schedule:
Lectures in Hamilton
Labs in P-K South
Day 1: Monday June 22
2:15 Student arrival, unpack in dorms
3:00 Island Intro: Fire and water/Facilities tour
4:30 Field: Appledore Orientation walk and Ice Breakers
6:00 Dinner
7:00 Lecture in P-K: Course expectations, overview of assignments, Intro to Scientific Observation
8:00 Sunset hike to Smith’s Cove
10:00 Dorm
Day 2: Tuesday June 23
7:30 Breakfast
8:30-9:30 Lecture: Zones of the Ocean Intro
9:30-11:30 Field: Intertidal collection (LT @ 10:46am)
11:30-12:30 Scientific sketch at the sea table, begin to identify organisms
12:30 Lunch
1:30-3:30 Lecture in P-K: Intro to Invertebrates, and create class list of invertebrates and macroalgae
3:30- 3:45 BREAK
3:45-5:45 Lecture in P-K: Intro to macroalgae, Tides and Tide Table exercise,
6:00 Dinner – Michelle joins class 6:45ish
7:00 P-K: Practice using transects and measuring elevation for fieldwork
7:45 Rock Talk: Kate Sampson, NMFS Sea Turtle Stranding and Disentanglement Coordinator
10:00 Dorms
Day 3: Wednesday June 24
7:30 Breakfast
8:30-10:00 Lecture: Intertidal Community Ecology
Discuss: The Marginal World (Rachel Carson)
10:00-12:30 INTERTIDAL TRANSECT VISIT #1 (LT 11:32AM)
12:30 Lunch
1:30 Lab: Consolidate class transect data
2:30 Lecture: Intro to Plankton, Open Ocean Ecology
Tern talk (time TBD)
4:15 FOOD RUN
5:00 Work period: Brainstorm group project ideas, team formation (research question due)
6:00 Dinner
7:00 Group Study for Lab Practical/Group project planning time
10:00 Dorms
Day 4: Thursday June 25
7:30 Breakfast
8:30 Lecture: Intro to Marine Vertebrates
10:00-12:30 Intertidal transects VISIT #2 (LT 12:20PM),
12:30 Lunch
1:30-4:30 On the Boat: Trawl and phytoplankton tow
Back in P-K: Microscopic observation/ID of phytoplankton and zooplankton
4:30-6:00 Work period: Consolidate data for transect reports and/or study for lab practical
6:00 Dinner
7:00 Lecture: How to cite scientific sources
Jeopardy Review for lab practical
Day 5: Friday June 26 – Whale Watch
7:30 Breakfast
8:30-10:00 Lecture: GOM Oceanography and/or Guest
10:00-3:00 (approx.) Whale/Seabird watch with packed lunch
4:00-6:00 Work period: data collection and/or transect report
6:00 Dinner
7:00 Lab Practical Exam (in P-K)
10:00 Dorms
Day 6: Saturday June 27
7:30 Breakfast
8:30 -11:30 Lab: Dissection stations, clean up
11:30-12:30 Work period: data collection/transect report
12:30 Lunch
1:30- 4:00 Work period: Research Project Block (LT@ 2pm)
Fisheries course oral presentations, time TBD
Possible trip to White Island for half the class
4:00-6:00 Lecture: Fish diversity and sustainable seafood exercise
6:00 Dinner
7:00 Sunset discussion – How do we choose what to protect?
Readings: The Blood Harvest and What’s Killing all the Puffins
10:00 Dorms
Day 7: Sunday June 28
Optional Time to Work on Transect Report – due by 10am
10:00 Brunch
11:00 Fishing Trip
1:00-5:00 Project time
Possible trip to White Island
5:00 Supper
7:00 Movie
10:00 Dorms
Day 8: Monday June 29
7:30 Breakfast
8:30-11:30 Lecture: Ocean Circulation, Sound in the Ocean/Marine Mammal Adapations
NARW Case Study
11:30-12:30: Intro to Marine Mammal Debate: identities assigned for Debate on Tuesday evening
12:30 Lunch
1:30-2:30:
2:30-3:30 Lecture: Marine mammal debate prep period
3:30-6:00 Research Project time
6:00 Dinner
7:00: Guest Lecture
10:00 Dorms
Day 9: Tuesday June 30
7:30 Breakfast
8:30-12:30: Lecture: Ocean Exploration
Guest lecture
Debate prep period
12:30 Lunch
1:30-3:30 Final Data Collection period for research project
3:30-4:30 On the boat – seal observation
5:00-6:00 Final debate prep
6:00 Dinner
7:30 Marine Mammals in Captivity Debate
10:00 Dorms
Day 10: Wednesday July 1 LT 9 am
7:30 Breakfast
8:30 Lecture: Oceanography and pollution – the great pacific garbage patch
9:30-10:30 Workshop: Communicating science
10:30-12:30 Work period: Paper writing
12:30 Lunch
1:30 Lecture: Big History and Climate Change
2:30 Lab: Carbon footprint
4:30 Food Run
6:00 Dinner
Research paper draft due by 9pm
10:00 Dorms
Day 11: Thursday July 2
7:30 Breakfast
8:30 Lecture: Marine Pollution
9:00 Lecture/Lab: Human Impacts, Marine Debris/Plastic
Debris collection/analysis (LT 9:45am)
Sculpture creation
12:30 Lunch
1:30 Lecture: Ocean acidification
2:30 Discussion: The Darkening Sea, Elizabeth Kolbert
3:00 Career paths talk: Guests Luke and Maureen
4:00-6:00 Project time, presentation prep
6:00: Dinner
7:00 Presentation rehearsals
10:00 Dorms
Day 12: Friday July 3
7:30 Breakfast
8:30-11:30 Presentations: MES2 Research Symposium
12:30 Lunch
1:30 Class Jeopardy review for final
6:00 Dinner
7:00 Final exam prep and paper revisions
10:00 Dorms
Day 13: Saturday July 4 (Holiday Schedule)
10:00 Brunch
11:00 Final Exam, open notes (in P-K)
Work Period
Final papers due by 5pm
5:00 Supper
th
4 of July Celebrations
Day 14: Sunday July 5
10:00 Brunch
11:00-12:00 Personal packing time
12:00 Class t-shirts
2:30-4:30 Lab and Dormitory Deep Clean
4:30 Course evaluations
5:00 Supper
6:00 Walk to shoe tree
7:45 Star Island ice cream
9:15 Movie and popcorn
Day 15: Monday July 6
7:30 Breakfast
8:30-9:30 Final Packing
10:00 Departure