University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric
Science, Bimini Biological Field Station
Tropical Marine Biology (MBF 514) Briefing
This course is the result of our desire to provide a quality field experience for marine biology students. Our many years of cumulative experience both as marine biology students and professors has convinced us that traditional biology courses are limited in their ability to present the beauty, exquisite diversity and complexity of the natural marine world. As instructors, we are frustrated by the limitations of typical laboratory courses. We believe that it is unacceptable to present a 50-year-old blob of preserved, whitish jelly to a student and expect that student to understand the biology or appreciate the beauty of a sea anemone.
Therefore, we have created this course in an attempt to circumvent the usual limitations of traditional marine biology curricula. The students will observe every organism that is discussed in this course in its natural setting, performing its natural behavior, and interacting with its natural prey and predators. If a habitat is mentioned, you will swim there. If an organism is mentioned, you will see it alive and in person. We hope this experience will instill in you an appreciation for the beauty and biological relationships of the marine world that few other courses can.
This course is designed to teach you about the major habitats of tropical marine waters, including: Sea grass meadows, rocky and sandy shores, coal reefs and mangrove forests. Concurrently, we will discuss many basic and theoretical issues in marine biology, such as zonation vs. succession, the Law of Competitive Exclusion, the origin of eukaryotes, and the evolution of metabolism. In addition, you will become intimately familiar with many of the common inhabitants of the above habitats and many of the ecological and behavioral associations of these inhabitants. After successfully completing this course, you will be able to identify the common inhabitants and their community relationship in many tropical, marine habitats.
This is a comprehensive course designed for serious students of marine biology. We will be working for at least 14 hours each day in a lecture setting, in the laboratory and in the field. Therefore, you will find this course to be intellectually demanding and physically difficult. We believe that it will also be one of the most enjoyable and stimulating courses that you will ever take.
Dr. Samuel H. Gruber is Professor in the Division of Marine Biology and Fisheries of the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. Dr. Gruber is the founder and administrator of the Bimini Biological Field Station, site of this course. Professor Gruber is a world-renowned shark biologist who conducts field research year round at BBFS.
Dr. Dean Grubbs is a former student of Dr. Gruber and is presently studying elasmobranchs in Hawaii.. Dr. Grubbs is an expert on the flora and fauna of Bimini and a true naturalist. He has taught this course for seven years.
Dr Dan DiResta is Professor in the Department of Biology, University of Miami and coordinator of the undergraduate marine sciences program. Dr DiResta has taught in the Bimini course for 4 years.
The staff will be composed of a cook, technicians and several teaching assistants. These individuals are responsible for your safety and comfort during the field course.
We will depart for Bimini from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport. Departure time at Bimini Island Air (954 938 8991) will be about 2 PM on the first day of class. You should arrive at the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport at noon for the 25-min. flight over the Gulf Stream to Bimini. Contact Dr. Gruber (305-274-0628) for specific details regarding our flight.
Everyone will arise at 7 AM for breakfast to be served by our staff. A lecture will be held from 8-10 AM. Then the class will travel (by foot, boat or automobile) to the habitat discussed that morning in lecture. Once there, the students will be responsible for collecting and observing common species and joining field lectures. The students will return to BBFS for lunch at noon. A second lecture will be held from 1-3 PM. Then the class will travel to a new habitat and repeat the morning's activities. We will return to BBFS for a hot meal at about 6 PM. Dinner will be held from 6-7:30 PM. All students, in pairs on a rotating basis, will participate in cleaning the dining hall and dishes. Class will resume at 7:30 PM. During the evening session there will be a laboratory period with time for identification of all specimens collected that day. There may be occasional lectures at this time as required. The formal laboratory period will end at about 10 PM. Students then are free to study QUIETLY and independently or in groups.
Class in held at the Bimini Biological Field Station in Bimini, Bahamas. Bimini is located about 100 km east of Miami and is about 12 km long. About 1200 people live on North Bimini. South Bimini, the site of BBFS, is relatively deserted and is the vacation home for several expatriate Americans.
Culturally, Bimini is a typical, relatively undeveloped West Indian island with all the associated charms (e.g., foods, clothing, architecture). Sunburn and insect bites are the main physical hazards.
We will all be staying at the Bimini Biological Field Station. BBFS is converted from a wooden frame duplex. It has five bedrooms (four persons per room in bunk beds), two bathrooms with showers, a small kitchen area, a dining hall, a lecture hall, and a deck. BBFS has central air-conditioning, indoor plumbing, and electricity.
Brackish wash water is supplied by two cisterns are filled by wells and store captured rainwater. A desalinator supplies drinking water.
The staff will prepare all meals. All students will participate in dining hall clean up on a rotating basis. The menu is a pleasant mixture of typical American meals (e.g., spaghetti, chicken) and Bahamian treats (e.g., conch chowder, souse chicken). Obviously, there will be certain foods that are not available to the students during their 10-day stay. All efforts will be made to satisfy individual dietary restrictions (e.g., vegetarians).
Physical and psychological demands of the course are similar to those experienced when one spends the day at the beach, ten days in a row. Sunburn, insects, and salt water and cold are the greatest physical challenges. Students should be prepared and able to snorkel and beach-walk several hours each day. Otherwise, no special exercise or preparedness is necessary.
There are no health precautions or necessary immunizations.
Medical facilities on the island are limited. In an extreme emergency, people can be airlifted to Miami for treatment. Due to the isolated nature of the study site, students with chronic health problems, such as heart conditions, allergies or sun intolerance should consult their physicians before registering. You will be required to sign a waiver of liability to join the class.
There is no telephone at BBFS but we have radio contact with Dr. Gruber's home in Miami. There are no mailboxes on South Bimini. Students can buy and mail postcards on North Bimini during their visit on the last day. In emergencies, students can travel to the S Bimini airport to call home. Also in extreme emergencies, with luck students can receive faxes via the Big Game Club (809-347-3391) or Sue and Joy's Boutique (attention Percy: 809-347-2115).
All students should arrive with the following items:
All bed linens and small towels are provided.
**Important: You will be restricted to 40 lb. in soft luggage. DO NOT bring more than 40 lb. to the airport. Overweight is charged at $1.00/pound
If you have any additional questions regarding logistics please call Dr. Gruber at 305-274-06288. If you have any questions regarding the content of the course please email Dr. Grubbs at dgrubbs@hawaii.rr.com or Dr. DiResta at diresta@miami.edu