Coastal marine ecosystems are among the most productive in the world, yielding numerous services for society. Yet these ecosystems are also among the most affected by humans. This course will introduce participants to the ecology and sustainability of near-shore marine environments with particular focus on coral reefs, salt marshes, mangroves, seagrass beds, and rocky intertidal ecosystems.

Students will learn the basic ecological principles that underpin the function of near-shore ecosystems and will explore how changing environmental and biological factors interact to influence their sustainability. There will be a strong emphasis on the important services that these ecosystems yield for society, and emerging ways in which these services are being managed for long-term sustainability. Classes will be broken up into lecture and discussion sections. Throughout the course, students will work in groups to lead a discussion on a topic of their choice with an emphasis on emerging themes in coastal sustainability.