ENVSCI 316: Coastal & Marine Pollution

This course will explore human impacts on coastal and marine ecosystems. Beginning with a brief introduction of coastal and marine ecology and methods for measuring impacts, the course will then investigate the major causes of environmental degradation to coastal and marine ecosystems. Major marine pollutant classes including metals, pesticides, and organic pollutants will be examined by reviewing sources, distribution in coastal ecosystems, toxicology of the pollutants to estuarine and marine organisms, and resulting effects to fisheries, marine communities, and human health. The impacts of nutrients loading, sewage outfalls, oil spills and dredging on environmental quality and the cascading effects on ecosystems will be discussed.