Marine Conservation Biology - Hawaii

About the Course

MARINE CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(B295S & ENV 324) - Spring 2007
Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Duke University Marine Laboratory

Instructors:
Andy Read (aread@duke.edu) - see website
Dave Johnston (Dave.Johnston@noaa.gov) - see website

Course Description:

In this course we examine the challenges associated with managing and conserving protected, threatened and endangered marine species in the Hawaiian Archipelago. We will use a variety of examples from the Hawaiian islands as case studies.

1. Recovery programs for endangered monk seals across the Archipelago;
2. The undesired effects of tourism on marine mammals;
3. Using marine protected areas to conserve coral reef ecosystems;
4. Conserving and protecting breeding seabirds in the NWHI;
5. Managing the effects of invasive species in the NWHI;
6. Assessing and managing the effects of marine debris accumulation in the NWHI;
7. Studying the effects of climate change and sea-level rise on NWHI atolls.

The course includes a field trip to Hawaii, including a 10 day excursion to Midway Atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, where we examine these issues first-hand with the assistance of scientists and managers working for Federal natural resource agencies. Indeed, students taking this course get unprecedented access to the professionals charged with ensuring the sustainability of protected species in Hawaii.