ENVI 121: Life in the Oceans
Dr. Joe Gorga
Email: gorga@sandiego.edu
Office: ST 269 (x6817)
MW 12 - 2
T 9:30 – 10:30, or By Appointment
Textbook: Marine Biology 6th Edition
Website: http://home.sandiego.edu/~gorga
Class Objectives
• To introduce the you to the organisms of the ocean, and to understand how they
interact with each other and their environments
• We will focus on phylogeny of marine organisms, and ecology of the oceans
• You will need to learn the fundamental concepts of marine biology, and be able
to make connections between subjects using critical thinking
Class Grades
• Grading Policy:
Lecture:
Midterm Exams (3)
Final Exam (non-cumulative)
Homework and Participation
Total Lecture Points
Total Lab Points:
Total Course Points
100 points each
100 points
50 points
450 points
350 Points
800 points
Grades will be based on a scale of: A= 90 – 100%, B= 80 – 90%, C= 70 –
80%, D= 60 – 70% and F= <60%.
You must pass both the Lab and Lecture in
order to pass the course
Why Study The Ocean?
Marine Biology
• The study of organisms that live in the ocean
• These organisms provide: food, medicines, raw materials,
used for recreation, supports tourism
– Estimated ocean’s living systems are worth over $20 trillion
• Marine Biology is related to Oceanography, particularly
Biological Oceanographer
– Where: Coastal and Open Oceans
– Perspectives: Organisms and Environmental
• In order to understand the biology, we must understand the
physical and chemical environment also
Scientific Method
• Inquiry: a search for information and explanations
focusing on a specific question
• Descriptive Science: describes nature as accurately as
possible
– Inductive reasoning: go from specific to general
• Hypothesis-based Science: what are the natural causes and
explanations of the observations we see
– Must propose and test a hypothesis
– Deductive reasoning: reasoning flows from general to specific
Scientific Method
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Observation
• Careful; Include as many parameters as possible
• Observations  Induction  Hypothesis
Hypothesis
• Possible cause
• Reflect past experience (educated guess)
• Multiple (consider alternative explanations)
• Testable
• Falsifiable
Prediction
• Hypothesis/Principle  Deduction  Prediction
Experiment
• Experimental group, Control group, Replication
Results/Interpretation
Scientific Theory
Scientific Method: Case Study
Scientific Method
Field Observations vs. Controlled Experiments
1. Field Observations (in situ)
•
•
Natural setting
Uncontrolled variables
• Examples?
2. Controlled Experiment (usually ex situ)
•
•
•
Fewer uncontrolled variables
Test one or a few variable(s) at a time
Artificial setting (especially ex situ)
Scientific Method