Coral Reef Ecology – EEES 2720
SPRING 2014, 3 CREDITS
INSTRUCTOR :
JOHN W. TURNER JR., PHD, DEPT OF PHYSIOLOGY & PHARMACOLOGY AND DEPT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
THOMAS B. BRIDGEMAN, PHD, DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
OFFICE HOURS:
BY APPOINTMENT (BLOCK HEALTH SCIENCE , HSC RM 346)
EMAIL:
JOHN. TURNER@ UTOLEDO . EDU
THOMAS.BRIDGEMAN@UTOLEDO .EDU
PHONE:
419-383-4146 (TURNER), 419-530-5499 (BRIDGEMAN)
ASSOCIATE INSTRUCTORS: DAVID BOWERS, M.ED.
UT ONLINE HELPLINE :
419-530-8835 (KEEP THIS NUMBER HANDY!). THERE ARE ALSO A NUMBER OF OTHER
WAYS TO CONTACT ONLINE HELP THROUGH THE BLACKBOARD COURSE SITE , OR BY EMAIL
(UTDL @UTOLEDO .EDU).
Description:
An exploration of the coral reef environment and the dynamics of coral reef ecosystems.
Various organisms and their interactions in the web of coral reef life are examined to illustrate
the food web and specialized habitats within the reef system. Emphasis on the delicate balance
of natural reef processes and impacts of natural and human-imparted stressors on reef health.
A Note on Online Learning
This course is taught entirely online via the UT Online Program. Online Learning is largely selfdirected through text readings, writing assignments, online quizzes, and other learning
exercises. If you are the type of student who learns best by reading, the online format may suit
you well. This course may also utilize timed quizzes and exams. Consider these things in
deciding whether this course is a good choice for you.
Pre-Requisites: None. Marine Biology EES 1150 is suggested.
Required Text:
1. The Biology of Coral Reefs by Charles R. C. Sheppard, Simon K. Davey and Graham M. Pilling.
2009. Oxford University Press.
Suggested additional reading (not required): Hawaiian Coral Reef Ecology by David Gulko.
2006 (4th Printing). Mutual Publishing
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Grading:
25%: Midterm Exam
30%: Final Exam
15%: Quizzes
15%: Term Paper
15%: Blogs & Discussion Board Participation
Grading Scale
A : 100-94
A- : 93-90
B+ : 89-87
B : 86-83
B- : 82-80
C+ : 79-77
C
CD+
D
DF
:
:
:
:
:
:
76-73
72-70
69-67
66-63
62-60
<60
This scale offers a guaranteed minimum grade. For example, if you end up with an 83% average
at the end of the course you are guaranteed to earn at least a “B.” Adjustments to this scale are
not likely to be needed, but if the overall distribution of class grades is lower than expected, a
one-time adjustment may be made at the end of the term after the final exam is completed and
all scores are in.
Important Dates:
Jan 6:
Jan 20:
Jan 27:
Mar 3-7:
Mar 28:
Apr 25:
May 2:
May 6:
Spring Term begins
MLK, no classes
Last day to drop
Spring break, no classes
Last day to withdraw
Last day of classes
Final Exam
Final Grades reported
Course Policies:
Internet Connection: It is important in any online course for you to have a reasonably fast and
very reliable internet connection. Connecting to the internet is the student’s responsibility, and
the inability to connect is not an excuse for missing deadlines for quizzes, discussions, and
exams. Assignments are open for several days, therefore if connection problems arise, there
should be ample time to fix the problem or find another computer. Do not wait until one hour
before the quiz closes to log on as this will be too late to correct any connection problem you
may have. If you cannot connect to the website to complete an assignment, call or chat the UT
Online Helpline or website immediately, before the assignment availability closes. Give your
name along with your message. The UT Online office will log your call/message and document
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the problem. In the rare event that the University of Toledo distance learning network crashes
on the last day of a quiz availability, additional time will be provided.
Become familiar with the UT Online Help Desk website,
http://www.utoledo.edu/dl/helpdesk/index.html. One of the main reasons that students are
unable to connect to Online courses is because they have forgotten to change their U. Toledo
password every 6 months.
“If you are unable to login to Blackboard even though you can login to myUT Portal, please
change your password at https://myutaccount.utoledo.edu. Passwords are set to expire every
six months. Access to Blackboard may be denied when you attempt to use a password that is
about to expire. Please remember to keep your username and password private.
Quizzes and Exams: There are quizzes in the class every other week, excluding exam weeks. On
the weeks when quizzes are not scheduled, there will be blog assignments and students are
expected to make entries on the discussion board. Quizzes usually become available in the later
part of the week and must be taken before the indicated date and time (check the calendar and
quiz/exam tabs on the website as they become available). The deadline for quizzes is usually
11:55pm on Sunday evenings, to allow students with weekday jobs to study and take the
quizzes on the weekends. Quizzes and exams are open book. Quizzes are comprised of
multiple-choice questions and you will have limited amount of time to complete each quiz.
Quizzes and exams are not cumulative. The midterm and final exams will be time-limited and
may include essay questions.
Open Book guidelines: You are welcome to consult only your textbook and notes during quizzes
and exams. You may not seek help from any other student or external source during
quizzes/exams. Please note that time limits are tightly controlled and you will not have time to
look up all of the answers. Also, some questions may ask you to apply your understanding of a
concept to a new situation. Therefore, not all answers will be in the book. A good strategy
would be to study thoroughly and make notes so that you know the answers to most of the
questions right away and then you will have time to consult the textbook on a few answers that
you are unsure of.
Assignments: Blog/Discussion assignments are given frequently throughout the course. These
require a thoughtful response and often some additional fact-gathering. Blog/Discussion
periods usually close on Mondays and no additional postings can be made after that time. Every
discussion posting is read by the instructor (as well as your classmates). Discussions are graded
based on the degree of effort, thoughtfulness, logic reasoning, and writing skill demonstrated.
Blog/Discussion entries must be original. You may restate what you have learned from your
reading in your own words; however, cutting and pasting text from websites or other sources is
plagiarism and is not permissible. It is relatively simple (just do the work) to obtain full credit on
blog/discussion assignments; therefore, this can be an important way to greatly improve your
overall grade.
How to Succeed in this Course: Online learning courses require an additional measure of selfmotivation and self-discipline on the part of the student. Students who keep up with the
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assignments every week will find the class more enjoyable. Students who don’t log in for weeks
at a time will miss quizzes and exams and may well fail the course. Therefore, the key to success
is keeping up.


Make Coral Reef Ecology part of your weekly routine. You should plan to devote as
much time to this course as you would to any 3 credit hour course – the suggested time
is a total of 9 hours per week.
Complete every assignment. Even if you didn’t have time to study for a quiz and you
receive a low grade, that is much better than receiving a zero.
Academic Honesty
Students are expected to adhere to principles of academic honesty in all aspects of this course.
We follow the University policies on academic dishonesty
(http://www.utoledo.edu/catalog/2008catalog/general_2008.html). Infractions may therefore
result in a failing grade for the course.
General Course Objectives:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Explain how reefs are built.
List the major space takers on the reef.
Identify and describe the major abiotic factors in the reef environment and their roles.
List the common invertebrate and vertebrate reef inhabitants and their roles
Identify and describe the important symbiotic relationships in the reef community.
Describe the microbial components of the reef ecosystem and their roles.
Describe the interrelationships among biotic components of the reef community.
Describe natural and anthropogenic factors that negatively impact reef environment and
show the cascade of consequences.
9. Describe how you can use the scientific method to dissect and analyze reef problems.
10. Explain the importance of coral reefs and indicate changes in human activities that can
benefit reefs.
Course Content (Units)
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Unit 1
Coral Reefs: The Ocean’s Rainforest
Unit 2
Reef Builders and Other Space Takers
Unit 3
Physical (Abiotic) Factors Influencing Coral Reefs
Unit 4
Coral Reef Fishes and More
Unit 5
Microbial Life on the Reef
Unit 6
Symbiotic Interactions
Unit 7
The Coral Reef Ecosystem
Unit 8
Reefs Under Pressure
Appendices: Video List/ Links/Glossary/ References
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