Coral Reef Ecology and Conservation

Coral reef biology, ecology, and conservation are broadly covered through lecture and group discussion of primary literature and contemporary issues. Emphasizing Hawaiian reef ecosystems, topics include coral taxonomy, anatomy, reproduction, symbiosis, biogeography, evolutionary history, reef accretion or loss due to natural and anthropogenic disturbances. Discussions focus on global climate change and ocean acidification impacts on coral reef organisms, and contemporary ideas on how to address the ongoing crisis facing coral reef ecosystems from a conservation perspective.