Class: Biology Applications — Marine Ecology
Grade: Upper School
Teacher: Michelle Wildes

To further their study of the endangered North Atlantic Right Whales, students in the marine ecology class went whale watching in Boston Harbor. They then met with Dr. Elizabeth Burgess, a Right Whale researcher at New England Aquarium, to learn about the ongoing research happening to ensure the survival of our local species.

More about the course
Ecology is all about relationships and interconnections. In this course, students will focus on the interdependence of living marine organisms (biotic factors) and their ocean environment (abiotic factors) and how energy flows through Earth’s systems and connects us to all living things. Topics interwoven throughout the course include biodiversity, interdependence, chemical cycles, population biology, trophic structure, predation, competition, symbiosis, climate change, and human impacts. We will use collaborative modeling, experimental design, current research, and field experiences to deepen our understanding of marine science. Field trip experiences to places such as New England Aquarium and/or Northeastern University’s Marine Biological Laboratory will help support our learning by exposing students to real-world marine research.

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