EAAH Courses

MSCI 501E - Fundamentals of Environmental Chemistry, Toxicology and Pathobiology. Fall (2) Dr. Peter Van Veld and Dr. Wolfgang Vogelbein

This course emphasizes ongoing and emerging environmental concerns in the Chesapeake Bay and world ocean. Lectures will address basic concepts and mechanisms of contaminant chemistry and toxicology, infectious and noninfectious diseases in aquatic organisms. Case histories will be used to illustrate sources, fate and effects of anthropogenic chemical contaminants, and the important role of environmental change on disease in marine and estuarine ecosystems.

MS 560 - Fundamentals of Ecotoxicology. Spring (3). Dr. Michael Newman

Prerequisite: Basic Ecology.

This course is an introduction to ecotoxicology, the science of contaminants in the biosphere and their effects on constituents of the biosphere, including humans. The course provides a general survey of environmental toxicology and risk assessment from an ecological vantage.

MS 561 - Analytical Approaches in Environmental and Biogeochemical Studies. Spring (3). Dr. Robert Hale

Modern techniques to identify and quantify trace organic and inorganic compounds in the marine environment. Principles of extraction, purification, identification and quantification. Techniques include SFE, TLC, open column chromatography, HPLC, GC, trace metal spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Sampling, quality assurance / control, detection limits and other concerns will be covered.

MS 563 - Environmental Chemistry. Fall (3). Dr. Michael Unger

Overview of the major classes of environmental toxicants. Fundamentals of aquatic, atmospheric, and geo/soil chemistry. Emphasis on the environmental significance of chemical processes. Fate and transport of contaminants and how this affects bioavailability will be stressed.

MS 564 - Aquatic Toxicology. Fall (3). Dr. Peter Van Veld

Factors influencing the fate and behavior of major environmental toxicants in aquatic organisms. Mechanisms involved in their uptake, distribution, biotransformation and clearance. Effects of toxicants on aquatic organisms ranging from effects at the biochemical and cellular level to effects on individuals, populations and communities. Current methods of laboratory and field toxicity testing.

MS 565 - Principles of Pathobiology. Spring (3). Dr. Stephen Kaattari and staff

This is a course focused on the molecular and cellular mechanisms of pathogenesis in important, emerging diseases in the medical, veterinary, and aquacultural fields. Students will learn how current molecular and cellular techniques are being applied to the resolution of a variety of infectious and non-infectious diseases. Primary focus will be on the application of these techniques to the diseases of fish and shellfish, although mammalian models will be explored to provide a more global point of view.

MS 566 - Diseases of Marine Organisms. Fall, odd years (4). Dr. Eugene Burreson and Dr. Wolfgang Vogelbein

Identification, life histories, host defense mechanisms, pathology and control of non-infectious and infectious disease agents including viruses, bacteria, protozoa, helminth and arthropods in marine fishes and shellfishes. Three lecture and three laboratory hours.

MS 567 - Comparative Immunology. Spring, odd years (3). Dr. Stephen Kaattari

Prerequisites: Genetics and biochemistry, and permission of instructor.

Recommended: An introductory immunology course.

Current theories and applications of molecular and cellular immunology. A comparative approach to the understanding of immune function throughout the animal kingdom. Topics include antibody and antigen structure and function, immune cell networks, major histocompatability complex and disease resistance, mechanisms of pathogen recognition and elimination, general principles of vaccine design and modification. Three hours of lecture.

MS 575 - Aquatic Microbial Ecology. Fall (3). Dr. Iris Anderson and Dr. Howard Kator

Recommended: Organic chemistry or biochemistry.

An introduction to the role that microorganisms play in the biogeochemical cycling and production of dissolved and particulate inorganic and organic matter in freshwater and marine ecosystems. The approach will be ecological, relating environmental physiochemical properties to regulation of microbial processes, distributions, and biodiversity. Topics will include state of the art methods for detecting distributions, biomass, and activities of microorganisms in the natural environment, the energetics regulating microbial processes, microbial biochemical pathways, biodegradation, microbial interactions, and the role that microorganisms play in the foodwebs of various ecosystems. Although emphasis will be placed on marine systems, also discussed will be processes in estuarine, riverine, and groundwater ecosystems. Readings will draw heavily on the primary literature.

MS 638 - Fish Histology and Histopathology. Spring, even years (4). Dr. Wolfgang Vogelbein

Detailed examination of the normal microscopic structure and function of tissues and organs in fishes and the morphological and functional changes that occur in tissues during disease. Infectious and non-infectious diseases, including pathological changes elicited by chemical toxicants and environmental factors will be evaluated. Lab will consist of in-depth training in routine methods of paraffin histology and histochemistry. Three lecture and 3 laboratory hours. Restricted to 6 students.

MS 640 - Quantitative Ecotoxicology. Spring (4). Dr. Michael Newman

Prerequisites: General Ecology, Basic Statistics, or Permission of Instructor

A presentation and discussion of essential ecotoxicological principles and quantitative methods for the analysis of ecotoxicological data. Laboratory exercises include method applications with PC-based software. Emphasis is placed on the scientific and statistical soundness of techniques. The materials covered in this course establish the foundation for a second course in environmental risk assessment (MS 641).

MS 641 - Environmental Risk Assessment. Fall (3). Dr. Michael Newman

Basic structure and methods for environmental risk assessment are presented for retrospective and predictive assessments. Concepts associated with ecological and human hazard and risk assessments are covered. Discussions of associated logic and methods are framed around the NRC Paradigm of Problem Formulation/Hazard Identification, Effects Characterization, Exposure Characterization, and Risk Characterization.

MS 642 - Practical Environmental Statistics. Spring (3). Dr. Michael Newman

This course explores practical statistics for sampling, measuring, and making sound inferences from environmental data. The course is intentionally a broad survey of methods applicable to physical, chemical and biological studies, drawing examples from each of these areas.

MS 655. Methods in Aquatic Microbial Ecology. Spring, even years (3). Dr. Iris Anderson and Dr. Howard Kator

Prerequisite: MS 575 or equivalent.

An advanced laboratory-oriented course covering methods used to measure microbial numbers and biomass, activity, primary production, secondary production, community metabolism, specific biogeochemical cycling, and degradation of pollutants. Methods include gas chromatography, emission spectrometry, epifluorescence microscopy, and application of stable and radioactive isotopes. Each student will design, prepare and perform a field-project utilizing methods described in the course.