Master’s in Marine Mammal Science MIMMS Curriculum & Graduation Requirements

In this introductory course, students will learn more about the theories and methods
related to studying marine mammal cognition (Mod 1) and neuroscience (Mod 2). In
Neuroscience, methods covered will include structural and functional MRI,
electrophysiology, histology, and varied approaches to comparative anatomy and
physiology. Students will have hands-on experience with marine mammal tissues
and imaging datasets. Emphasis will be placed on understanding marine mammal
nervous systems in terms of ontogeny and phylogeny, and their relationship to
behavioral ecology and disease processes.

In this introductory course, students will learn more about the theories and methods
related to studying marine mammal ecology, acoustics, (Mod 1) and behavior,
including field work in Sarasota Bay (Mod 2).
The ecology unit will cover common ecological methods such as mark-recapture
analyses, population modeling, tagging and tracking, and prey surveys. In the
acoustics unit, methods will include acoustic recording methods, sound visualization
and analysis techniques, and passive acoustic population analyses.The behavior
unit will include focal follows, photo identification, and behavioral sampling schemes.

In this individualized class, students work with faculty and other students to collect or analyze data in an area selected by the class participants. Data collection will often be done off-site at a marine mammal facility or in the field.

In this on-going seminar, faculty and students will meet weekly to discuss each
other’s on-going scientific work as well as sharing and discussing peer-reviewed
journal articles relevant to that work. Some meetings will include readings, talks by
guest speakers, and consideration of hot topics in marine mammal science.

In this January-term seminar, each student will work with each other and their
professors to draft a proposal for their thesis project. The seminar will provide
guidance on building a well-constructed proposal including formulating a strong
research question, developing a literature review, outlining methodology, drafting an
analysis plan, and discussing possible outcomes. A focus will be placed on clear
communication, demonstrating project feasibility, and thoughtful planning.

In this course, students will learn about methods to derive information from biological studies, including statistical approaches to interpret laboratory and clinical results. We will cover relevant background on descriptive and inferential statistics, study design and power estimation, hypothesis testing, survival analysis, and Bayesian inference. While some application is required, emphasis is placed on why and when to use each approach. We will give special attention to methods of inference where no underlying distribution is known — a common case in biological research. 

In this course, students will delve into the world of marine mammals, including
cetaceans, sirenians, pinnipeds, and mustelids. Key areas of study encompass life
history, physiology, energetics, ecology, cognition, sensory biology, and
reproduction. Further, we address the conservation and management challenges
faced by these species. By the end, students will understand the classification of
marine mammals, their aquatic adaptations, their ecological roles within marine
habitats, and key conservation issues.

In this course, students will work on individualized approaches to data analysis and
interpretation. Students will be guided through the process of identifying, conducting, and interpreting data analyses that are specifically tailored to their research projects. Where appropriate, statistical software and programming languages will be utilized and advanced statistical techniques covered.

In this January-term seminar, each student will create a first draft of their thesis. The seminar will help students organize their findings, consider how their findings fit into the larger context of their field, and synthesize the literature they have reviewed. Additionally, guidance will be provided on the process of structuring and writing a thesis.

In this focused seminar, students will work to turn their thesis work into a journal
article. The seminar will provide guidance on how to structure a manuscript, present
data in a clear manner, and effectively communicate complex scientific ideas in
writing. An emphasis will be placed on the importance of revision, seeking feedback,
and conforming to journal expectations.

This course begins with an introduction to underwater acoustic principles, focusing
on sound propagation, reflection, absorption, and ambient noise in marine
environments. Students will then explore the diverse vocal repertoires of marine
mammals, including cetaceans, pinnipeds, and sirenians, emphasizing their
functional significance in communication, navigation, and foraging. A pivotal
component of this course is the introduction to passive acoustic monitoring
techniques. These techniques allow for continuous and non-intrusive monitoring of
marine mammals so we may learn about their behavior and ecology.

This seminar will focus on learning theory (e.g., classical and instrumental
conditioning) and cognitive processes (e.g., perception, attention, memory, timing) in a variety of species as well as the methods used to study these topics. We will
consider this work through multiple frameworks (e.g., ecology, philosophy,
conservation). This will include contributions to behavioral flexibility in marine
mammals and how cognition suits different species for dealing with different sorts of environmental/social problems. Students will engage in assessment and design of studies as well as honing their communication skills.

The substantial similarities in basic associative learning principles across vertebrates permits generalization of many learning characteristics from the study of just one species. In this lab, students will apply their knowledge of animal learning through training goldfish (Carassius auratus) as a representative species. The laboratory hands-on work will be supplemented with observations of training of marine mammal species (e.g., dolphins, manatees) and shadowing of marine mammal trainers. This course provides basic skills and foundation concepts for behavioral study of cognition.

In this course students will examine theory and emerging empirical findings examining changes in marine mammal nervous systems as they speciated. We’ll examine adaptations to aquatic environments and look at the impact of vastly different foraging and social ecologies in pinnipeds and cetaceans. We’ll also consider sensory adaptations in sea otters and sirenians and examine the peripheral and central mechanisms for these. This course is integrative and will span all levels of Neuroscience (Molecular to Systems) and also include diverse concepts in behavioral and sensory ecology.

Dolphins produce a remarkable number of vocalizations. In this time-compressed
intensive seminar, we will investigate the structure, functions, and variety of these
vocalizations with a specific emphasis on dolphin whistles. Students will explore how we study and what we know about these whistles, including hands-on experience with a local passive acoustic monitoring system set up in Sarasota Bay.

This course will focus on the outsized role state and federal agencies play in
conservation management from permitting to funding to conservation policy.
Students will learn how these organizations operate, their impact on research and
development, strategies for securing funding, how to navigate logistical challenges,
and how to navigate career planning in these organizations.