The Atoll
Biology 320
Spring 1997
Professor Mark Merlin
Biology Program and Graduate Faculty,
Department of Geography
University of Hawai'i at Manoa
Honolulu, HI 96822
phone number: 808-956-6038
e-mail: merlin@hawaii.edu
This course presents an interdisciplinary
perspective of atolls and other selected coral island
environments. Geological, climatological, geomorphological,
biological, ecological, and cultural aspects of these insular
environments will be covered in this broadly-focused course. A
major emphasis will be on the role of Homo Sapiens in changing
these unique environments.
Text:
Alkire, William H. 1965 (update epilogue
1989).
Lamotrek Atoll and Inter-island Socioeconomic Ties
Other Readings:
Selected articles and chapters from a
variety of sources, especially the Atoll Research Bulletin,
Pacific Science, and Micronesica (some will be offered
as handouts others will be put on reserved in Sinclair Library).
Student Evaluation:
One mid-term examination will account for
20%; The term paper and oral presentation will account for 35%;
class participation will account for l0%; and a cumulative final
exam will account for 35% of the grade. Examinations will consist
of essay questions. Topics of research papers will depend on
student interest and instructor approval. Attendance in class
lecture is required.
SCHEDULE
Dates, Topics and Readings:
[a number of guest lecturers will take part in the lectures]
1/14 Introduction to course; student topic
selection for term project/paper; an overview of atoll formation
in the Hawaiian Islands.
1/16 Distribution of atolls and other coral
islands (geography), with an emphasis on atolls in the Pacific.
1/21 Geological and biological origins of
atolls -- More on plate tectonics, hot spots, life history of
oceanic islands -- and other origin theories.
1/23 Climate I: including review of
variation in rainfall distribution, seasonally and
geographically; the hydrological cycle; severe storms and
hurricanes/typhoon frequencies and impacts on low islands.
1/28 Climate II: including review of
variation in rainfall distribution, seasonally and
geographically; the hydrological cycle; severe storms and
hurricanes/typhoon frequencies and impacts on low islands.
1/30 Oceanography -- currents, swells,
waves, and tides.
2/4 Reefs, corals, and the origins of atoll
islets.
(guest lecturer: Dr. James Maragos)
2/6 Marine mollusks of coral reefs.
(guest lecturer: Dr. Alison Kay)
2/11 Coralline algae, other seaweeds, and
seagrasses: biogeography and ecology of these marine plants.
(guest lecturers: Dr. Kent Bridges and Dr. Celia Smith)
2/13 Marine crustaceans, polychaetes,
echinoderms, porifera, and other coral reef animals.
(guest lecturer: Dr. L. Eldridge)
2/18 Reef and shore fishes of the tropical
pacific.
(guest lecturer: Dr. Richard Pyle)
2/20 Terrestrial flora and vegetation --
native plants-- from intertidal zone to raised reef environments:
origins and examples of dominant species in different vegetation
types.
2/25 Birds on atolls with an emphasis on
sea birds.
(guest lecturer: Dr. Sheila Conant)
2/27 Mid-term exam
3/4 Arrival and settlement of people on
Pacific atolls; the third great wave of human migrations; the
prerequisites of colonization, including navigational skills and
long distance voyaging canoes, reef and lagoon harvest
techniques, and specialized farming skills.
3/6 Pre-contact transported landscape; the
alien plants and animals introduced intentionally and
accidentally to the atolls.
3/11 Cultural ecology: variations upon the
same general environmental theme, examples from Melanesia,
Micronesia, Polynesia and the Indian Ocean.
3/13 Lamotrek atoll, Yap State, Federated
States of Micronesia: a case study of society, environment, and
inter-island exchange; adaptation to the hazards of severe storms
and typhoons.
3/18 Lamotrek atoll II: (continuation of
case study).
3/20 Lamotrek atoll III: (continuation of
case study).
3/24-3/28 Spring Break
4/1 Modern impact on atolls, alien spp.
(micro and macro organisms), imports of foreign material goods
and services, population increases and declines, changes in
subsistence activities, urbanization, pollution, warfare, and
brain drain.
4/3 Modern impact on atolls, case studies
I: Bikini, Enewetak, and Kwajelein Atolls. (Guest lecturers: Dr.
James Maragos and others)
4/8 Modern impact on atolls, case studies
II: Majuro, Tarawa, and Ebeye Islet.
(Guest lecturers: Dr. James Maragos and others)
4/10 Environmental Intervention Assessment
for atoll environments; New Marine Classification and Coral Reef
Initiative; the Northern Marshall Islands Survey.
(Guest lecturer)
4/15-5/6 student presentation of term
projects/papers.
5/15 -- 12:00-2:00 -- Final Exam Biology 32
[Subject: Natural Science; Pacific/Comparative]
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