This course will introduce students to the varying marine environments surrounding the Dingle Peninsula and their importance, in terms of biodiversity and sustainability. Through multiple field trips and lecture, we will explore many coastal ecosystems, how they are shaped and the organisms that live in them.

Students are introduced to the abiotic and biotic processes that influence aquatic communities including coastal streams, rocky intertidal zones, sandy beaches, marshes, harbors, and the open ocean.

Throughout the course, we will also discuss how human activities affect these ecosystems, and other topical marine issues.