Reef Fish Ecology of the Sea of Cortez
BIO149AK
: Field Experience - 1 Credit
Spring 2005 Dives: April 30 & May 1, 2005
Orientation: April 2, 7:00 PM, LS 137
Spotted Sand Bass   
Click here for more Fish Photos & Information: RockyPointFishPics.html
Click here to print out the Photo ID Card.

This course consists of two parts:

Part I. At GCC Students will learn:

  • The diversity of Fishes in the Sea of Cortez
  • How to identify common species
  • Their ecological roles
  • Snorkel skills (for beginners) & review (for others)
  • Part II. In Rocky Point, Mexico, students will:
    • Develop their SCUBA / snorkel skills
    • Identify common species
    • Complete REEF Surveys of Fish Presence and Relative Abundance

    The ultimate goal of the course is for students to develop a meaningful database of fish presence and relative abundance from the northern Sea of Cortez at Rocky Point. Students may participate over multiple sessions to develop baseline data useful for other scientists.

    You can join the REEF program (free) at their web site:
    The Reef Environmental Educational Foundation

    Check out the Fish Gallery for the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez).

    You can view surveys from the Northern Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California):
    http://www.reef.org/cgi-bin/georep.pl?region=TEP&geogr=2
    Note the surveys under 'Punta Penasco', code 2203

    We will stay at CEDO Intercultural - a biology and education facility in Rocky Point.
    They also coordinate conservation efforts in the area:
    http://www.cedointercultural.org/

    New Link: http://www.seaofcortez.org/
    John Steinbeck & Ed Ricketts toured Baja and the Sea of Cortez in 1940. Their 'waveprints' have been retraced this year by a senior group of marine biologists (also from Monterey CA). The link above describes their journey and the current state of life in these waters.

    Instructor: Robert H. Reavis, Ph.D.
    Office: O6 170 Hours
    Phone: 623.845.3277
    robert.reavis@gcmail.maricopa.edu
  • Official Course Description 
  • Course Competencies 
  • Course Outline
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