These fall semester courses are offered together as the Semester By the Sea program, but may be taken individually as well. They incur regular UMaine tuition and fees. UMaine students can register directly through MaineStreet. Non-UMaine students should contact Dr. William Ellis for additional academic and registration information.
- SBS Undergraduate Seminar (SMS 350)
- Marine Ecology (SMS 352)
- Biology of Marine Invertebrates (SMS 480)
- Design of Marine Organisms: Momentum, Mass and Information Transfer (SMS 481)
- Human Impacts on the Ocean (SMS 482)
- Zooplankton and Ichthyoplankton in Marine Ecosystems (SMS 491)
- Introduction to Research Diving (SMS 491)
- Maritime History and Archaeology of New England (INT 441)
 |
During informal sessions students will be assisted in planning a career following college graduation including preparing a curriculum
vitae, applying for jobs, handling interviews, and applying to
graduate school. In the latter instance, students will learn how to
select graduate schools and advisors, preparing applications, and
setting a course towards a career as a professional marine scientist. 1 credit. |
 |
Marine communities and ecological interactions are studied through lectures, field trips along the rocky shore of Maine, and laboratories. Concepts of biodiversity, the food web, and the role of physical and biological limiting factors are developed. Critical and creative thinking and problem solving are enhanced by designing and conducting experiments to test hypotheses. Data analysis and report writing are emphasized. 4 credits. |
 |
Most of the biodiversity of the world is made up of small to medium-sized invertebrates that represent 97% of all the animals on the planet. About 1-2-million invertebrates have been described with an estimated 30-million remaining to be discovered. Invertebrates can be divided into approximately 35 basic body plans and they can be found in every marine habitat from the bottom muds to the overlying water and from shallow, intertidal zones to the deep sea. This course will deal with the general biology of coastal and deep water marine invertebrates of the Gulf of Maine including their functional morphology, behavior, ecology, and life histories. Students will study living specimens and will learn to recognize and identify many common species encountered in the region. They will participate in numerous field trips to various coastal habitats to collect specimens, including several trips on a research vessel to collect larvae from the plankton and adult specimens via bottom sampling. An emphasis will be placed on species diversity and body design relative to habitat type. 4 credits. |
 |
Students use flumes and other flow devices to gain an understanding of the principles of momentum and mass transfer and then to discover how they influence form and function in marine organisms. Lectures prepare students to conduct their own laboratory observations: abiotic flows and model living organisms interacting with flows. A final integration adds sensory ecology and unsteady flow behaviors. Applications range from bacteria to invertebrates and vertebrates. Lecture and laboratory are combined into a day-long class period. Juniors and seniors only. |
 |
Human Impacts on the Ocean deals with the many ways in which humans have influenced oceanic processes at local and global scales. We seek to identify changes, which means identifying human influences against a background of natural changes. Examples of areas covered include biological species introductions, nutrient enrichments, oil and other forms of pollution, and manipulation of sediments. 3 credits. (SMS 482 is offered in odd numbered years.) |
 |
This course presents the world of zooplankton, how we study it and our current understanding of zooplankton's role in marine ecosystems. Students receive training in taxonomy and identification, sampling techniques and measurement of rate processes used in determining zooplankton fluxes and population dynamics. Fundamental concepts about biodiversity, the trophic role of zooplankton, factors influencing fish recruitment, and the influence of climate change on pelagic ecosystems are examined. The course consists of a morning lecture followed by instruction in field and laboratory settings to demonstrate methods and lecture concepts. Students participate in coastal transects and learn to sample and identify local zooplankton and planktonic stages of fish. The control of phytoplankton biomass by grazing is measured by short term incubation experiments. Population dynamics is studied by observation of copepod population structure and reproductive rates. The goal is to provide students with an experience of the richness and complexity of zooplankton in their natural environment while learning methodology and critical analysis of data and concepts. 3 credits. |
 |
Chris Rigaud, UMaine Dive Safety Officer Students will be instructed in advanced diving, dive rescue, oxygen administration, and underwater research techniques. Practical field diving activities will be a large focus of the course. The course will be taught by the UMAINE Diving Safety Officer, selected UMAINE faculty, and guest lecturers experienced in using scuba diving as a research tool. Following successful completion of course objectives, students will be eligible to participate in diving research projects as a scientific diver-in-training or scientific diver. If you have a recreational certificate and hope to pursue scientific diving in your academic career, this is the class for you! Interested students should contact Chris at crigaud@maine.edu for further details. 3 credits. |
 |
An overview of maritime aspects of New England history, from aboriginal uses through the current state of maritime New England. Emphasis will be given not only to history, but also pertinent archaeological research. Satisfies the General Education Western Cultural Tradition and Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives Requirements.3 credits. |