An Overview of Coastal Ecology

Name: An Overview of Coastal Ecology
Rating: 4.2 (35 reviews)

The Biotic and Abiotic Factors Affecting Coastal Communities

Created byJennifer McCarthey Tyrell

Last updated 5/2017

English

English [Auto],

What you'll learn

Comprehend Physical factors of coastal habitats.
Comprehend Estuaries, where fresh and salt water mix.
Learn about Coastal Shore communities.

Course content

1 section • 10 lectures • 1h 29m total length

Introduction: Tides and Tropic Levels6:38
Explore how tides shape coastal habitats from estuaries to tidal zones and how trophic levels from producers to top predators drive energy flow and nutrient cycling.
Estuaries3:38
Explore estuaries, where freshwater meets saltwater, creating salinity and temperature gradients, stratified or mixed water columns, and supporting high productivity across drowned river valleys, fjords, and tectonic estuaries.
Salt Marshes10:57
Explore salt marshes as nutrient-rich estuaries dominated by Spartina and Juncus, detailing mudflats, anaerobic and aerobic layers, and the marsh's role as a nursery and pollutant filter.
Mangroves8:31
Explore mangroves as tropical coastal ecosystems that tolerate salt and thrive between 25 degrees latitude north and south. Learn their root adaptations, species diversity, and historical recovery from DDT impacts.
Tectonic Plates and Sandy Beaches13:41
Explore how tectonic plate boundaries shape shorelines, from subduction-zone coasts to passive, sandy beaches, and examine beach life, sea turtle nesting, and light pollution impacts.
Rocky Shores5:13
Explore the rocky intertidal zone and tide pools, where sessile organisms and filter feeders like sponges, mussels, barnacles, and limpets endure heat, low oxygen, and high salinity amid predators.
Tide Pool Predators3:52
Explore tide pool predators, from starfish feeding on clams and mussels to octopuses hunting with a muscular beak; observe how shorebirds forage and how jellyfish stinging cells threaten prey.
Ocean Zones10:48
Traverse ocean zones from intertidal shores to the benthic zone, explore upwelling and nutrient cycling, and see kelp forest keystone species shaping coastal ecosystems.
Coral Reefs7:28
Explore coral reefs as biodiversity hubs, detailing hard and soft corals, zooxanthellae, reef formation, parrotfish algae grazing and sand production, and cleaning stations that remove ectoparasites.
Nonpoint Source Pollution19:13
Investigate nonpoint source pollution from stormwater that carries nutrients, oils, and plastics into coastal waters, triggering algal blooms and red tide. Assess effects of overfishing, mercury, and marine debris.

Requirements

You should be able to use a PC at beginner level.
An interest in coastal ecology would be an advantage.
An interest in environmental science would be an advantage.

Description

Coastal Ecology deals with the diversity of life and the organization of various forms of habitats -- from terrestrial (middle) to aquatic ecosystems. Ecology, which means "study of environment" or "house" in Greek. This is the scientific study and analysis of interactions of organisms with their environment.

In this course, Coastal Ecology, explores the biotic and abiotic factors that affect coastal communities. This course explores the main coastal habitat types in depth with physical factors, tropic levels, and the flora and fauna that inhabit these ecosystems. Human influences and effects are discussed for each habitat type and the overall health of coastal environments, as well as their long term conservation and protection

Who this course is for:

Individuals with passion for nature and the environment.
Professionals who want to gain knowledge about coastal ecology.