Marine Biology: Explore the Oceans With Sea Turtles, Whales, Sharks, Coral Reefs

Immerse yourself in ocean ecosystems using resources provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). We will use a collection of virtual underwater dives in the form of 360° videos which allow us to go pretend scuba diving in kelp forests, coral reefs, and even shipwrecks. This class will use lots of fantastic media to take students underwater to witness alien underwater worlds. 

We start our journey in the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary where we feature humpback whales, green sea turtles, and white tip reef sharks. We will explore their physiology, life cycle, interactions with other animals in the ecosystem, major threats to their survival, and what we can do to help these threatened and often endangered animals. 

Each series of classes will be location specific so learners will gain an understanding of ocean geography as we transition from the Hawaiian Archipelago, to the Florida Keys, and on to the depths of the Atlantic Ocean. We will discuss relevant geology like the formation of volcanic island chains and barrier reefs. We will also discuss relevant atmospheric and oceanographic processes like ocean upwelling which drives food availability in the open ocean. Finally we will appreciate the conservationists and scientists who study ocean life, by viewing some current projects and research stations, like Aquarius, the worlds only underwater laboratory located in the Florida Keys. 

To clarify, I am not a Marine Biologist but I have a degree in ecology and I am a life long learner. I love to study new subjects and share what I learn with the Outschool community. 

Class Schedule: 
February 3rd
Hawaiian Islands National Marine Sanctuary - Humpback Whales
	
February 10th
Hawaiian Islands National Marine Sanctuary - Green Sea Tortoise and Whitetip Reef Sharks
	
February 17th
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary - Coral Reef Physiology
	
February 24th 
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary - Coral Reef Ecosystem
	
March 3rd 
Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary - Sea Kelp Forests - upwelling and physiology
	
March 10th
Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary - Sea Kelp Forests - sea kelp ecosystem 
	
March 17th
Open Ocean - phytoplankton and the foundation of the food chain

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Classes will continue with new material each week until summer break.