for segue forms (.pdf) click below

Objectives

• Demonstrate some of the basic aspects of marine biology  particularly as they relate to studies of food and medicine in traditional societies.

• Illustrate broad applications of marine biology.

• Develop avenues for students to continue to learn about marine biology that lead directly out of the segue experience.

Learning Structure

• Class-room/Laboratory discussion groups (students will have already watched assigned video presentations)

  • Students will discuss concepts of human interactions with plants as they are used for calories and nutrition across a range of cultures.

  • Students will complete a short 15 minute laboratory experiment involving sensory analysis of ten species of limu (edible algae). The purpose of this experiment is to illustrate (in parallel with the above rice experiment) that wild-harvested food diversity is usually harvested at the species rather than the variety level even though linguistically it is discussed as very much the same sort of variation. The students learn about the importance of inter-species diversity across a broadly defined cultural category.
    　

• Community observations

  • Students will be asked to bring to class a limu product like dried seaweed, furikake, and/or poke.  While doing so, students can observe and sample different uses of limu in their community.
    　

• Web-based delivery of information to students:

  • Provide a brief overview of some of the most interesting areas of marine biology.

  • Direct students to practitioners of marine biology within the University and in the community at-large.

  • Show students specific courses or other educational opportunities that can be used to further explore interests in marine biology.

Learning Outcomes

(1 = Most Desired Outcome, 3 = A Desirable Outcome, 5 = Least Desired Outcome)

1. Students seek more information about studies in marine biology, register to take a course in marine biology, and become a degree seeking major in marine biology.

2. Students seek more information about studies in marine biology and register to take a course in marine biology as part of an effort to broaden their education.

3. Students develop a sufficient (but minimal) understanding of marine biology to be able to make decisions about their own career (and inclusion or not of this science). These students are probably better citizens/voters.

4. Students do not learn anything about marine biology.

5. Students develop a negative perspective about marine biology because of the information received through this project.

Ethnobotany Segue Experience

• Two ethnobotany experiments are conducted together bridging this segue with a segue to nutrition science.
  　

• During the class session, the students will identify six edible species of limu and complete their own classification chart.  In order to do this, students will be provided with limu information cards and Limu: An Ethnobotanical Study of Some Hawaiian Seaweeds by Dr. Isabella Abbott.
  　

• As a follow-up to the limu lab, students will research at least three facts about a limu species they found interesting.  Students will report this information next week in class.

Other Science Components

• Marine biology is the scientific study of algae, animals and other organisms that live in the ocean or other marine or brackish body of water. Given that in biology many phyla, families and genera have some species that live in the sea and others that live on land, marine biology classifies species based on the environment rather than on taxonomy.
  　
• Conservation, ecology, and management of coral reef systems
• Biotechnology in marine biology research and development
• Biochemical applications in marine biology
• Microbial studies in relation to the ocean's biological composition
• Impact of weather patterns on marine biology

Other Science Practitioners

• Students interested in studying marine biology may want to contact Dr. Cynthia Hunter, cindyh@hawaii.edu at the Department of Biology at University of Hawaii, Manoa.
  　
• They may also want to contact Dr. Celia Smith, celia@hawaii.edu at the Department of Botany at University of Hawaii, Manoa.
  　
• Other practitioners of marine biology include:
  • Fishermen
  • Navy officers
  • Fish and wildlife workers
  • Algae farmers
  • Divers
  • Natural resource managers
  • Boat crewmen

Other Science Courses

If you are interested in learning more about marine biology, a good introductory course for biological science majors is Biology 171 Introductory Biology. 

Alternatively, non-science majors may want to take Biology 101 Biology and Society.

OCN 201 Science of the Sea is another great course for someone interested in marine sciences.

However if you have already taken some biology courses and/or oceanography courses, you may want to consider Biology 301 Marine Ecology and Evolution.

Resources

• Students considering to major in any of the biological sciences should contact the University of Hawaii biology department advisor Joseph Menor, bioadvis@hawaii.edu, Dean Hall rm. 2, (808) 956-8303.
  　

• Students interested in biology may want to consider joining the biology club: http://www2.hawaii.edu/~bioclub/index.html
  　

• Are you looking for a certificate in marine biology? If so, learn more about the Marine Options Program.
  　

• For career information, students may want to view the occupational outlook for potential careers in marine biology at the U.S. Department of Labor:

  • Agriculture and Food Scientists

  • Biological Scientists

  • Chemists and Materials Scientists

  • Engineering and Natural Science Managers

  • Environmental Scientists and Hydrologists

  • Fishers and Fishing Vessel Operators

  • Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing

  • Scientific Research and Development Services

  • Science Technicians
    　

• Here are some additional websites that pertain to marine biology in Hawaii:

  • Alien Algae in Hawai ̀i

  • University of Hawaii, Marine Biology

  •  Waikiki Aquarium