In this semester course, we will learn about Marine Ecology and Our Oceans. What are the Ocean's most diverse environments? What are the interactions amongst species? Why keystone species are very important for life on our blue planet? Have humans impacted the Earth and the oceans? How do animals behave and why? What does marine and terrestrial conservation do to protect our oceans and planet? Find the answers to these questions and many more in "Marine Ecology and Our Oceans". We will engage in a marine ecology project: create our own marine ecosystem.

We will meet two times a week for nine weeks. 

During the course, each student will create their own Marine Ecosystem based on what they learn, covering habitat, species, interactions, food webs, marine and terrestrial conservation and their own imagination. They will get to present their Ecosystems in class.  

My classes offer a unique opportunity to participate asking or answering questions and discussing different topics that we will see in each class. Participation is optional and students can use the chat too. 

I will share my own presentations, videos, photos and my own experience as a marine biologist and scuba dive instructor. 

My classes are designed to encourage student engagement and follow their curiosity. There are no prerequisites for this class.

Class One – The Hydrosphere I: Introduction to Earth's diverse environments: Climate, currents and Oceans.
Class Two – The Hydrosphere II: Introduction to Earth's diverse environments: Freshwater communities and big lakes.
Class Three – The Hydrosphere III: Introduction to Earth's diverse environments: Pacific and Atlantic Ocean.
Class Four –  The Hydrosphere IV: Introduction to Earth's diverse environments: Arctic, Indic and Southern Ocean.
Class Five –The Hydrosphere V: Introduction to Earth's diverse environments: Open Ocean and deep ocean.
Class Six –Communities and Ecosystems I: Marine biodiversity and Species Richness.
Class Seven – Communities and Ecosystems I: Competition, Symbiotic and Predator/Prey Relationships.
Class Eight – Communities and Ecosystems II: Food Chains, Food Webs, and Energy Flow.
Class Nine – Communities and Ecosystems III: Carbon cycle, Plankton, Photosyntesis and Respiration. 
Class Ten – Communities and Ecosystems IV: Invasive Species, Keystone Species and succession.
Class Eleven – Behavioral Adaptations to the Environment I: How marine animals behave in their natural environment.
Class Twelve – Behavioral Adaptations to the Environment II: Learning and Behavioral changes of marine animals.
Class Thirteen – Behavioral Adaptations to the Environment III: Social and Mating Behavior of marine animals..
Class Fourteen – Human Evolution and its Ecological Impact I: Culture and our power to change the environment. Fisheries and the population explosion.
Class Fifteen: Human Evolution and its Ecological Impact II: Global Warming and Rapid loss of marine species.
Class Sixteen: Marine Conservation: Protecting our marine species and ecosystems.
Class Seventeen: Marine Conservation: Marine Protected Areas and worldwide marine conservation projects.
Class Eighteen: Presentations and open discussion.