ENVS 342-000: Barrier Island (Spring 2010)

Barrier Islands are places of constant geological and ecological transformation, reflecting a dynamism imparted by the interactions of organisms, sediments, rivers, tides, storms, and sea level.  This course will provide an overview of barrier islands, integrating principles of geology and ecology to better understand why these places routinely undergo considerable and rapid change. Human-related factors affecting modern barrier islands, such as shoreline development, invasive species, and global climate change, also will be addressed.  The Georgia barrier islands, which are among the best studied in the world, will provide case studies of how varying degrees of human interaction can result in geologically and ecologically distinct islands. Two weekend field trips to the Georgia barrier islands are a required part of the course.  May be used to fulfill an Upper Level Elective requirement for ENVS majors.