USCB Coastal Ecology & Conservation

The Bachelor of Science in Biology with a concentration in Coastal Ecology and Conservation serves the southeast's need for trained coastal scientists.

Courses that can be credited toward the Coastal Ecology and Conservation Concentration"

BIOL B410
-INVERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY (4). (Offered every even year fall semester)
(Prerequisite: BIOL B301) Phylogenetic and comparative aspects of anatomy, physiology, reproduction and embryology of the invertebrates. Three lecture and one three-hour laboratory per week. BIOL B411
-BIOLOGY OF MARINE ORGANISMS (4).

(Offered every odd year fall semester)
(Prerequisites: BIOL B101, BIOL B102) Biological concepts emphasizing adaptation to marine environments. Laboratory experiments emphasize principles and techniques of marine biological study. Three lecture and three laboratory hours per week. Scheduled field trips are required. BIOL B425
–MARINE PLANTS (4). (Not regularly offered)
(Prerequisite: BIOL B301) Diversity, distribution, physiology, ecology, evolution, and economic importance of marine algal, sea grass and mangrove communities. BIOL B436
-ICHTHYOLOGY (4). (Offered every odd year fall semester)
(Prerequisite: BIOL B301 or consent of instructor) Phylogeny, morphology, behavior, and ecology of fishes. Several field trips are required. BIOL B471
–CONSERVATION BIOLOGY (4). (Offered every odd year spring semester)
(Prerequisite: BIOL B301 or equivalent) Synthesis of current scientific trends in conservation biology. Emphasis will be placed on the preservation of biological diversity as well as its evolutionary potential. Laboratory/Seminar will review scientific literature and introduce modern molecular techniques in conservation biology and computer simulation modeling. BIOL B475
-MARINE ECOLOGY (4). (Offered every even year spring semester)
(Prerequisites: CHEM B111, BIOL B301) Structure, dynamics and interactions between populations and communities in marine ecosystems. Three lecture hours per week. BIOL B478
–HERPETOLOGY (4). (Not regularly offered)
Evolution, physiology, ecology and behavior of amphibians and reptiles. The lab portion of this course will focus on native amphibians and reptiles and their importance in local ecosystems. BIOL B480
–MOLECULAR MARINE ECOLOGY (3). (Not regularly offered)
(Prerequisite: BIO B301 and BIOL B303) Investigation of techniques and analysis of molecular data in marine organisms. Hands on experience using molecular tools to investigate population genetic, ecological and systematic principles. BIOL B486
–LIFE AND DEATH IN THE SALT MARSH (4). (Offered every Maymester)
(Prerequisite: BIOL B301 or consent of instructor) Intensive Summer May Term course teaching field research methods, statistical design, and culminating in an independent research project on aspects of ecological processes of Beaufort and surrounding counties. Students will spend more than 5 hours per day in classroom/field laboratory context planning, developing, researching background, and
carrying out their research project, approved and facilitated by course faculty.

09/20/2024

09/01/2024

It is a mating swarm of nereid polychaete worms. In a bizzare, but well known, season change, the posterior of the worm differentiates into a sexual phase (the epitoke) and breaks off of the rest of the worm (the atoke). They then swarm to the surface to have a mating free-for-all. It some cultures, like Samoa and Fiji, the natives will scoop up the eggs and egg them like caviar. Pretty wild...

10/05/2022

Drymonema larsoni tentacles can be as long as 70 feet long!

If you visit our beaches right now you may notice something different in the water. These large pink jellyfish are scientifically known as Drymonema larsoni. They are commonly known as Pink Meanies, in part because they use their long tentacles to catch and eat other types of jellyfish.

A scientist from the Dauphin Island Sea Lab helped to discovered that the pink meanie represents not only a new species, but an entirely new family of jellyfish. They were first spotted in our area in 2000.

Yes, they do sting, although reports say it isn’t as painful as the sting from the sea nettle or Portuguese man-of-war. We don’t suggest you find out about that sting.

As always, be aware of beach flags. The purple flag indicates the presence of dangerous marine life.

https://www.gulfshores.com/beach-water-activities/beaches/beach-flag-warning-system/

Photo: Alena Mitchell, taken in the Fort Morgan area on September 30, 2022

Photos from Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium's post

04/09/2022

Interesting new research on the horse conch, Triplofusus giganteus.

Hilton Head to create garden honoring island’s ‘Tree Lady’ for 35 years of conservation

02/18/2022

Nice honor for our own Sally Krebs!

Hilton Head to create garden honoring island’s ‘Tree Lady’ for 35 years of conservation Sally Krebs stuck up for the environment as Hilton Head rapidly developed in the 1980s and 1990s.

01/29/2022

Live birth by an eagle ray, probably Myliobatis aquila.
https://fb.watch/aRe7lrpg4D/

11/18/2021

Support diversity!

09/23/2021

Wetlands provide essential ecological services to our communities.

Elasmobranch microbiomes: emerging patterns and implications for host health and ecology - Animal Microbiome

09/20/2021

Great review of the microbiome of sharks!

Elasmobranch microbiomes: emerging patterns and implications for host health and ecology - Animal Microbiome Elasmobranchs (sharks, skates and rays) are of broad ecological, economic, and societal value. These globally important fishes are experiencing sharp population declines as a result of human activity in the oceans. Research to understand elasmobranch ecology and conservation is critical and has now....

'Unique marine discovery': Ten-year old boy becomes one of Australia's youngest scientific authors

08/28/2021

Budding young scientist, never too young to start!

'Unique marine discovery': Ten-year old boy becomes one of Australia's youngest scientific authors Rehan Somaweera noticed about an unusual trait from a common octopus. His curiosity saw him become one of Australia's youngest authors of a published scientific paper.

Shark research group reaches out to medical professionals after Cape Breton shark attack | Saltwire

08/22/2021

Dr. Kim Ritchie featured in article on Nova Scotia shark attack...

Shark research group reaches out to medical professionals after Cape Breton shark attack | Saltwire A research group that tags and tracks great white sharks off Cape Breton reached out to medical professionals with potentially life-saving information after a woman was apparently bitten by a shark . Chris Fischer,