STL 201 - Introduction to Field and Laboratory Studies of Estuaries and Coastal Systems

Coastal regions are critically important to the United States for their natural and economic resources. These narrow strips of coastal lands are also home to more than half of our population. In order to understand the importance of coastal systems, this course will examine the biological, chemical and physical processes that make these ecosystems so dynamic. It is only through the study of the interrelationships of these processes whereby one can achieve a complete understanding of why estuaries and coastal systems are some of the most productive ecosystems on earth and have great economic and societal value. In this course students will be introduced to field and laboratory studies. Through a combination of seminars and laboratory activities students will learn the basic theory and laboratory techniques in the collection of environmental data. Topics include, water quality, ocean currents, climate, sampling aquatic organisms and preservation of samples. The course will focus on the Hudson River and Long Island Sound since these estuaries have played a central role in the historic, social and economic development of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
Lecture
2 Credits