Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre

Marine Invertebrate Zoology (6 weeks; April 30 - June 8) Full
Instructors: Dr. Marjorie Wonham (Quest U)
Dr. Tara Macdonald (Institute of Ocean Sciences)
2010 course profile

Marine invertebrates represent almost every phylum on earth, and Barkley Sound contains a fantastic diversity of them. In this course, students investigate the zoology – the functional morphology, behaviour, ecology, and phylogenetic relationships – of living marine invertebrates. We take field trips to explore a variety of habitats and organisms, including exposed rocky shores, mudflats, eelgrass beds, and beaches. Field work is complemented by lab work, lectures, primary literature readings, and discussion.

Research skills: This course focuses on honing rigorous research skills including: observing organisms, formulating questions and hypotheses, performing surveys and designing experiments.

Biological Oceanography (3 weeks; April 30 – May 18)
Instructor: Dr. Ed Buskey (U of Texas)

Introduction to the organisms of the open sea and coastal zone, their adaptations to the environment, and the factors that control their productivity, distribution and abundance. Emphasis will be placed on the interdisciplinary nature of biological oceanography by exploring the effects of physical and chemical oceanographic processes on the productivity of the sea over time and space, and the effects of human activities on pelagic marine life. The course incorporates lectures with class discussions and will emphasize laboratory and field work with organisms found in the coastal waters of British Columbia. Independent projects will provide further opportunity for students to explore aspects of the biological oceanography of Barkley Sound.
Prerequisite: Introductory biology and ecology, or consent of the instructor.
Required Text: Biological Oceanography by Charles Miller, 2004, Blackwell Publishing. BMSC will have 2 copies for sale in our science stores.

Research skills: Collection of marine life from research vessels using nets, dredges and trawls; use of electronic sensors to monitor and record basic hydrographic parameters (temperature, salinity, oxygen, chlorophyll); laboratory methods for measuring nutrient, oxygen, chlorophyll and fecal coliform concentrations in local waters; identification of microscopic planktonic organisms, methods for measuring productivity, grazing and reproduction in planktonic organisms, and how to carry out an independent research project.
Note: Preference will be given to students wishing to take both Biological Oceanography and Limnology.
Enrichment activities: We will also have discussion sections on various topics including: ethics in science, applying to graduate school, effective scientific presentations.
Physical requirements: Field and lab work may include some or all of the following activities: walking and climbing on rocky shorelines to collect specimens, working in small and medium sized boats in coastal waters, ability to observe small organisms using microscopes.

Models in Ecology (3 weeks; April 30 - May 18)
Instructors: Dr. Mark Lewis and Dr. Marty Krkosek

Limnology (3 weeks; May 21 - June 8)
Instructors: Dr. Kerri Finlay & Rich Vogt (U of Regina)
2010 Course Profile

This course will examine the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of lakes and how they affect in-lake processes and water quality.  In particular, we will focus on energy flow, nutrient cycling and limitation, and food web dynamics in lakes, with comparisons to marine systems where appropriate.  Finally, we will examine how human activities alter natural processes in aquatic systems.
Research skills: Development of testable hypotheses regarding lake water quality, design of appropriate sampling regimes and experiments, and appropriate statistical analyses to support results and conclusions.
Prerequisites:  Introductory Biology, Chemistry, and Ecology.

Scientific Diving (3 weeks; May 21 - June 8) Full
Instructors: Dr. Don Levitan (FSU), Ms. Sherri Ferguson (UBC, SFU, UVic), and Siobhan Gray (BMSC)

The course will introduce and familiarize certified divers with the practices of scientific diving. Students will learn essential skills and methods used in underwater research, including surveys using transects and quadrats, underwater size assessment, tagging and species identification. Upon successful completion, students will obtain CAUS - Scientific Diver 1 Status.

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[…2009 Course Profile]

Marine Ecology (6 weeks; June 11 - July 20)
Instructor: Dr. Mike Berger (Washington State University)

The aim of this course will be to provide a broad overview of marine ecosystems such as the rocky intertidal, estuaries, coral reefs, deep-sea, and polar habitats. Within each ecosystem we will explore the processes and mechanisms that regulate the abundance and distribution of marine organisms. A strong emphasis will be placed on observing organisms and conducting experiments in many of the diverse marine habitats near BMSC. By the end of the course, we hope you will have an in-depth understanding of marine ecosystems and how organisms within those ecosystems interact with each other and their physical environment.
Prerequisites: Two semesters (or equivalent) of introductory level biology for majors or permission from the instructor.

Crustacean Biology (3 weeks; June 11 - 29)
Instructor: Dr. Greg Jensen (U of Washington)

Science Filmmaking (3 weeks; June 11 - 29) Full
Dr. Colin Bates (UBC), Jeff Morales (National Geographic)
…2009 course profile

An introduction to the use of video as a means to communicate scientific and natural history information. Topics will include story selection, planning, scripting, camera technique, voiceovers, technical aspects of video and audio production, video and audio editing, project output, and distribution. Opportunities will exist for shooting in the field and studio, and certified divers may have opportunities to try underwater videography.

Science Journalism (3 weeks; July 2-20)
Instructor: Dr. Bob Holmes (New Scientist)

This course will focus on the practice of science journalism. Topics will include identifying newsworthy stories, finding sources, techniques of effective interviewing, story structure, and writing in the style and at the level required by journalistic outlets (newspapers, magazines, and online). The reporting skills and understanding of story structure taught in this class will also complement the skills learned by students who take the science filmmaking course.

Comparative Biomechanics (6 weeks; July 2 – August 10)
Instructor: Dr. Tim Higham (Univ. of California, Riverside)

Description: How do fishes swim and capture prey? How do hummingbirds hover? How do frogs jump? How do crabs walk? How do snakes slither? You can address these questions in this course focusing on how organisms function mechanically in their environment. It will be a combined lecture, laboratory and field course focusing on the comparative biomechanics of vertebrates and invertebrates occupying the coast of Vancouver Island. Lectures will develop dominant themes with emphasis on movement in fluids (air and water) and on land. Field trips will involve observation of fishes, amphibians, snakes, birds, and several invertebrates. Students will conduct an independent research project in small groups during the final 3 weeks of the course. Due to the time and equipment constraints, students will select projects from a list developed by the instructor.

Research Skills: Laboratory techniques may include digital particle image velocimetry (for fluid flow visualization), one of Canada’s largest flumes, electromyography (for assessing muscle activity patterns), high-speed digital video at thousands of images per second (for assessing locomotor and feeding kinematics), and a force plate (for assessing ground reaction forces). On completion, students will have an extensive understanding of the concepts and techniques commonly utilized in biomechanics research. In addition, students will gain an appreciation of the extensive diversity of animals that can be found in the Pacific Northwest.

Marine - Terrestrial Interactions (6 weeks; July 23 – Aug 31)
Instructor: Dr. Morgan Hocking (SFU)

A combined field and lab course studying the interactions between marine and terrestrial systems and how the intertidal zone can mediate and facilitate these processes. Focus will be on the role of invertebrates, beach-plants, salmon, and marine algae as they contribute to the flow of resources between coastal forest and inshore marine ecosystems in coastal British Columbia. Core topics will include the integration of landscape ecology and food web ecology in the context of energy subsidies to ecosystem functions. Field and lab exercises will assess and measure the materials flowing between ecosystems and study physiological adaptations to this transitional environment. Students will be responsible for a research project on a topic of their choice or from a suggested list. On completion, the students will be expected to demonstrate a thorough ecosystem-level understanding of the ecological links between marine and terrestrial systems.

Research Skills: As part of the Marine Terrestrial Interactions course, students will gain a much greater understanding of how to conduct a research project from initial design to final presentation. This component of the class will be integrated throughout the course, and will include:

• systematic searching of the peer-reviewed literature;
• critical analyses of this literature (via student-led discussion);
• experimental design;
• research design (slightly different than experimental or statistical design);
• introduction to relevant statistical methods;
• data collection skills;
• field sampling techniques
• written and verbal presentation of studies.

Prerequisites: Introductory courses in ecology and invertebrate zoology are recommended, or permission of the instructors.
Textbook: There is no textbook – readings to be assigned by the instructors.
Physical Requirements: This course exposes students to the rugged west coast environment, including its thick coastal forests, rocky intertidal and near shore marine environment. Accordingly, some moderate physical challenges are to be expected. These include, but are not limited to: moderate (though infrequent) hikes on uneven trails for up to an hour, frequent navigation of slippery rocks of the intertidal, and frequent trips on boats (which require disembarking in the intertidal or on beaches at field sites). BMSC safety rules, training, and guidance from the instructors and the teaching assistant minimize the challenges and any risks. Students can also contribute by invoking common sense and bringing appropriate footwear and outdoor clothes.

Coastal Field Archaeology (6 weeks; July 23 – August 31) Full
Instructors: Mr. Iain McKechnie (UBC)
Ms. Nicole Smith (Parks Canada)

In partnership with the Huu-ay-aht First Nation, this course will introduce students to coastal field archaeology. Students will participate in field trips to a variety of archaeological sites; attend lectures on indigenous history, archaeological theory, paleoenvironment, and the historical ecology of the west coast of Vancouver Island; participate in fieldwork; and, analyze archaeological samples in a lab-based setting. Students will be responsible for writing up an aspect of the archaeological work, the results of which will be shared with the Huu-ay-aht First Nation.

Statistics for Biologists
(3 weeks; August 13 - 31)
Instructor: Dr. Edd Hammill (UBC)

Course Description: This course is aimed specifically at anyone intending to pursue a career in biology in which they will design their own experiments. The key aim of the course is to start getting students to think about how they will analyse their data before they collect it. One of the course's major goals is to equip senior undergraduate and graduate students with the tools they need to effectively carry out independent research.
Research skills: The course introduces multiple fundamental statistical tests, moving from basic t-tests to techniques designed to deal with very complex data. The course also introduces aspects of experimental design, scientific writing, and how to avoid producing awful figures.
Prerequisites: A basic knowledge of statistics would be advantageous, but is not essential.
Required Textbook: The Analysis of Biological Data, Whitlock and Schluter
Physical Requirements: This course is not field based. Students must be able to negotiate stairs and hills on campus.

Directed Studies in Marine Science (3 or 6 weeks; dates student's choice)

Undergraduate and Graduate Directed Studies may be undertaken at any time during the summer term. Study will involve a research project approved by a supervisor in the student's field of interest. Projects will be designed to take advantage of laboratory and/or field opportunities. Applications should be accompanied by a project outline and a letter from a faculty member willing to supervise. Normal room and board, tuition, and supplemental fees will apply. Students interested in SCUBA related projects should contact , at least one month before expected start date
Contact the for more information about doing a directed study at BMSC.