Course Description
Summary
Whales and dolphins evolved from a terrestrial deer-like mammal about 50 million years ago. In this course we will explore the unique evolutionary histories, ecological strategies, and conservation concerns of marine mammals. We will focus on cetaceans, a group comprised of 90 diverse species ranging the 88 lb. vaquita to the 165 ton blue whale. Topics will include, adaptations for marine environments, life history and reproduction, marine food webs, methods of study, social communities, communication, and consequences of human activities, such as overfishing and pollution.
