Deep Sea Biology SMS 374

70% of this planet is ocean, and 90% of that ocean lies at depths beyond human reach without significant technological help.  The Deep-sea is arguably the largest ecosystem on the planet. This online only course will provide an introduction to scientific exploration and study of deep ecosystems and organisms around the world. Topics considered will be broad, covering historical aspects of deep-sea discovery, the physical environment, how organisms function at depth, specific environments and ecosystems (e.g. hydrothermal vents, seamounts, cold-water coral ecosystems) and human uses of the deep-sea.

Instructors: Rhian Waller,  University of Maine.

• Credits: 3
• Course Dates: May 10- June 16, 2021
• Course Format: Online Asynchronously through Summer University (course 80966)
• Prerequisites: A basic level biological or oceanography course, or for UMaine students BIO100, BIO222 or SMS100
• Course Size: 30 participants
• Register following the instructions here at UMaine Summer University