Academic Catalogs

ESEC A121: Marine Intertidal Ecology

Course Outline of Record
Item Value
Curriculum Committee Approval Date 12/08/2021
Top Code 030100 - Environmental Science
Units 1 Total Units 
Hours 36 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 9; Lab Hours 27)
Total Outside of Class Hours 0
Course Credit Status Credit: Degree Applicable (D)
Material Fee No
Basic Skills Not Basic Skills (N)
Repeatable No
Grading Policy Standard Letter (S), 
  • Pass/No Pass (B)

Course Description

Ecology of the marine intertidal environment of Southern California. This is a field oriented laboratory experience for non-majors. Enrollment Limitation: MRSC A121; students who complete ESEC A121 may not enroll in or receive credit for MRSC A121. Transfer Credit: CSU.

Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)

  1. List the physical and biological factors that affect organisms in the marine intertidal environment.
  2. Describe the various intertidal habitats and the communities that exist within them.
  3. Demonstrate knowledge of intertidal organism’s life histories.

Course Objectives

  • 1. Identify common marine intertidal plants and animals.
  • 2. Identify the major physical factors that affect organism distribution.
  • 3. Identify ecological interactions in marine intertidal systems.
  • 4. Define the human influence on marine intertidal systems.

Lecture Content

Review of general ecological concepts Introduction to concepts in Intertidal Ecology Physical Intertidal Zonation Biological Intertidal Zonation Types of Intertidal Habitats Factors that affect and ecology of Rocky Intertidal Factors that affect and ecology of Sandy Beach Intertidal Factors that affect and ecology of Estuary, Bay, and Harbor Intertidal

Lab Content

A.        Rocky Intertidal                    1.        Identification                    2.        Species abundance                    3.        Species diversity     B.        Sandy Intertidal                    1.        Identification                    2.        Species abundance                    3.        Species diversity    C.        Estuaries                    1.        Identification                    2.        Species abundance

Method(s) of Instruction

  • Lecture (02)
  • Lab (04)

Instructional Techniques

Lectures, demonstrations, short video/animations, field exercises assignments, data collection and interpretation, basic statistical analyses, and summaries.

Reading Assignments

Assigned text reading. :  0.75 hours per week

Writing Assignments

Students are required to keep a journal documenting their learning in class, reading of the text, and field studies. : 1 hour per week

Out-of-class Assignments

Research for presentations: 0.5 hours per week

Demonstration of Critical Thinking

Written and oral reports, weekly quizzes, and exams

Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration

Students are required to keep a journal documenting their learning in class, reading of the text, and field studies.

Eligible Disciplines

Biological sciences: Masters degree in any biological science OR bachelors degree in any biological science AND masters degree in biochemistry, biophysics, or marine science OR the equivalent. Masters degree required. Ecology: Masters degree in ecology or environmental studies OR the equivalent OR see interdisciplinary studies. Masters degree required.

Textbooks Resources

1. Required Tway, L.. Tidepools: Southern California: A Guide to 92 Locations from Point Conception to Mexico, 2nd ed. Wilderness Press, 2011