Online Class: Marine Biology 101
-
17Lessons
-
22Exams &
Assignments -
3,246Students
have taken this course -
9Hours
average time -
0.9CEUs
-
Video Audit
Available
Course Description
Dive into the Depths: Exploring the World of Marine Biology
Spanning over 70% of our planet's surface, the oceans are a vast, mysterious, and captivating realm teeming with life. Marine biology isn't just about understanding saltwater ecosystems, but unraveling the intricate tapestry of life that resides, thrives, and even orchestrates planetary processes within them. From the shimmering surface to the abyssal depths, every droplet of seawater holds a story of evolution, adaptation, and survival.
The genesis of life, according to scientists, took place in these saline expanses. Over epochs, life forms diversified and migrated to terra firma. Yet, some, like dolphins and whales, made a prodigious journey back into the marine embrace. One of the lesser-known marvels of our oceans is the microscopic phytoplankton. Despite their diminutive size, they play a colossal role in maintaining planetary health by producing a significant portion of the oxygen we breathe while also acting as a natural sink for carbon dioxide.
Oceans are the planet's lifeblood, with currents acting as arteries, transporting warmth and nutrients. Their dynamic nature, with evaporation and precipitation, orchestrates the global climate and weather patterns. The oceans' profound impact on global systems underscores the importance of understanding them.
Our meticulously designed course will take you on an enlightening journey:
- Lesson 1: Oceanography Essentials: Set sail with a foundational understanding of the marine world.
- Lesson 2: The Bedrock Beneath: Delve deep into marine geology and the oceans' underlying structures.
- Lesson 3: Riding the Waves: Navigate the fascinating realm of marine currents and tides.
- Lesson 4: Nomenclature Navigations: Discover the taxonomy of marine species.
- Lesson 5 & 6: A classification voyage through invertebrates and vertebrates.
- Lesson 7 & 8: Meet the fascinating marine fish and mammals that reign the oceans.
- Lessons 9-11: Ecosystem Expeditions - Dive into diverse habitats, from coral kingdoms to serene estuaries.
- Lessons 12 & 13: Coral Chronicles - Unravel the biology and ecosystems of coral reefs.
- Lessons 14-16: Journey from the frigid polar oceans to the open seas and the dark, mysterious abyss.
- Lesson 17: Heeding the Sirens: Address the contemporary challenges facing our oceans and the ways to safeguard their future.
You will encounter a plethora of life forms, from soaring marine birds and elusive reptiles to the myriad of fish that glide and dart through the oceanic expanses. Uncover the relationships, symbioses, and ecological intricacies that bind these creatures together in the vast marine biome. More importantly, become aware of the mounting threats these delicate ecosystems face.
Embark on this immersive odyssey and uncover the stories, secrets, and science of the oceans. Dive deep, for the tales of the seas are as boundless as the waters themselves. Join us, and let the waves of knowledge guide your voyage into the world of marine biology.
Course Lessons
Lesson 1: Introduction
Marine biology is the science of saltwater and everything that lives, moves, and filters through it.Lesson 2: Geology and the Ocean
The area where old crust is sinking under another slab of crust is called a subduction zone. Subduction zones create such deep trenches that they are all below sea level.Lesson 3: Currents and Tides
The term current refers to the motion of water. On land, the motion of water is usually driven by gravity: rain falls from clouds and then runs downhill toward lakes and to the ocean.Lesson 4: What's in a Name?
A species is a group of organisms that are able to successfully reproduce with one another.Lesson 5: Invertebrates
The jellyfish, for example, contracts its umbrella shaped body to propel itself through water. Other invertebrates use water pressure, shell, or cups to support themselves.Lesson 6: Vertebrates
There are seven main classes and superclasses of vertebrates that include fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals.Lesson 7: Marine Fish
The study of fish is called ichthyology, and ichthyologists have grouped all fish into three main categories: jawless, cartilaginous, and bony.Lesson 8: Marine Mammals
Mammals, whether they live on the land or in the sea, are all vertebrates (meaning they have a backbone and a brain).Lesson 9: Marine Ecosystems
A biome is a large geographical area that contains several different ecosystems. All the plants, animals and other organisms that live in a biome are adapted to that environment.Lesson 10: Life at the Shore
The intertidal zone (also called the foreshore, seashore and the littoral zone) is the area that is exposed to air at low tide and underwater at high tide.Lesson 11: Estuaries
An estuary is one type of intertidal zone, where a river meets the sea: freshwater meets saltwater in a bay, lagoon, sound, or slough.Lesson 12: Coral Reef Biology
Coral reefs are usually found in the tropics, and although corals make up a big part of the reef, they are just one component of an enormous community.Lesson 13: Coral Reef Ecosystems
Many marine scientists think that most reefs start out as fringe reefs, and over time, the coral grows out and away from land. As it gets farther from land, the reef's diameter expands and a large lagoon forms.Lesson 14: Life in the Polar Oceans
Although the two poles have a lot of similarities, like very cold weather and extreme living conditions, life in the two regions was shaped by a different series of circumstances.Lesson 15: The Open Sea
The open ocean is the largest biome in the world by volume, but in terms of the quantity of life, the Pelagic resembles the most enormous desert ever known.Lesson 16: Life in the Ocean's Depth
The Benthic Zonerefers to the sea floor, which extends from the tidal areas all the way down to the deepest trenches on the planet.Lesson 17: Oceans in Jeopardy
Some of the major threats facing the oceans include climate change, pollution, nutrient runoff, garbage dumping, overfishing, and ship strikes.
Learning Outcomes
- Define what marine biology is and why it is important to study.
- Describe geology and the ocean, currents and tides.
- Understanding the nomenclature of marine biology
- Identify invertebrates of the marine environment.
- Identify vertebrates of the marine environment.
- Identify marine fish.
- Identify marine mammals.
- Describe marine ecosystems.
- Summarize what estuaries are and why they are important.
- Summarize coral reef biology and ecosystems.
- Describe life in the polar oceans and the open sea.
- Describe life in the ocean's depth and its future with the human race.
- Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
Additional Course Information
- Document Your Lifelong Learning Achievements
- Earn an Official Certificate Documenting Course Hours and CEUs
- Verify Your Certificate with a Unique Serial Number Online
- View and Share Your Certificate Online or Download/Print as PDF
- Display Your Certificate on Your Resume and Promote Your Achievements Using Social Media
Student Testimonials
- "I thoroughly enjoyed the course and I have learned a lot. I will most definitely recommend the course to all of my friends that want to improve their knowledge on marine biology or just want to learn more about our oceans." -- Carmen T.
- "The Instructor was very responsive and prompt with feedback. The study material was detailed and well-organized. As a senior citizen (age 76) I really welcomed a challenge. I have studied Ecology, Chemistry, and Geology with this instructor." -- Judith J.
- "The instructor was prompt and the course was challenging and interesting." -- Abby H.
- "Love the course material and the instructor was also helpful and fast to grade." -- Francinne A.
- "I thoroughly enjoyed all the information that was presented in the course." -- Kathy W.
- "Outstanding course. I really enjoyed taking it." -- Matthew G.
- "Really enjoyed the course and learnt a lot." -- Ann R.
- "VERY good instructor and course." -- Ruth M.
- "Great instructor!" -- Melanie H.
- "This was a very interesting course. I enjoyed learning about marine biology. I would sit at dinner with my husband and children and tell them an interesting fact I had learned that day." -- Victoria L.