Do you enjoy spending time on the ocean? Are you fascinated with whales and dolphins? While several marine biologists, in general, study these smart creatures and other aquatic life, there are several areas of study within the field. Marine biologists might study whales to microbes, tiny plankton, or the conditions of the saltwater itself.
This is important because marine life suffers from human activities such as commercial shipping, entertainment boating, chemical waste disposal, and sewage disposal. Marine biologists study how such activities affect marine life, and suggest alternatives to minimize the hazardous effects.
They might examine the physiological and behavioral procedures of marine life and the environmental circumstances that affect them. They might even measure the impacts of human activities on marine life. Several marine biologists work as zoologists, wildlife biologists, fish and wildlife environmentalists, aquatic biologists, fisheries biologist, biological technician, and conservation biologists as well.
Marine Biologist Jobs Description
- Catalogue, monitor and test marine life with regard to various pollutants.
- Collect and examine samples and prepare observations from the research conducted.
- Involve in coring methods, visual recording, geographic information systems (GIS), and sampling in order to check the health of the marine ecosystem.
- Track the delivery, ranges or movements of aquatic life.
- Make detailed reports for fund-raising, agencies, commercial administrations, oil firms or government organizations regarding the status of the ecosystem.
- Conduct ecological impact evaluations that assess the possible impacts of developments and planned projects.
- Act as academicians for planning, policy, and supervision of marine activities.
- Conduct routine field examinations for research or fishing vessels activities in temperate, polar, and steamy seas.
- Offer policymakers the technical information required to best manage the marine environment and support this in the policy from the government.
Education Required
A marine biologist must have a bachelor’s degree in marine biology. Undergraduate degree programs include coursework on biology, chemistry, geology, and animal physiology. Marine biology-specific coursework may cover oceanography, marine mammalogy, coastal geology, marine phycology, marine pollution, atoll ecosystems and coral reef ecology.
A PhD and Master’s programs in marine biology are also important, and they offer specializations such as marine life genetics, molecular biology or chemical ecology. Also, post-graduate degree programs might provide education in ocean sciences and marine biology.
These programs comprise research programs that the students might require to undertake. A dissertation and thesis are needed for graduation for doctoral degree programs and master’s, correspondingly.
What Courses to Take in Marine Biology?
Doctoral-level subjects in this field mix didactic training with practical training. Doctoral applicants usually contribute in fieldwork and do investigation on boats. There is typically a heavy importance on unique publication and research. You would even learn about investigation practices, statistics for data collection, marine biology and interpretation, specialized teamwork and education. This course of education classically concludes in a book-length dissertation. Courses you can take include as below/;
- Computational ocean acoustics
- Signal processing
- Geological record of climate change
- Wave physics
- Applied mathematics
- Land surface hydrology
- Physical oceanography
Where Do Marine Biologists Work?
Because much of the investigation in this field emphases on molecular biology and the education of biochemical procedures, it is often essential to work in a laboratory with access to industry-present microscopes and additional technology. Marine biologists regularly work at sea as well, conduct observations and research of salt-water organisms from on-board submarines and boats.
Marine Biologist Salary
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) the employment of wildlife zoologists and biologists, including marine biologists, will rise by 8% between 2019 and 2029, which is about the average for other U.S. occupations.
In 2019 The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Southwest Fisheries Science Center stated that service in marine biology is quite economical. State and Federal governments offer the mainstream jobs, however there are numerous marine biologists looking for work than there are jobs accessible. Other employers contain university research services, aquariums and consulting companies.
Jobs in this profession are limited. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has projected that job growth for marine biologists will increase by 6% through 2022, lesser than average for all professions. Those with great computer skills and math will be at a benefit in the job market. (1)
Bottom Line
It is a long and difficult journey to become a reputed marine biologist. To progress in the career of your choice, you will require to specialize in a specific subject. The biology of fisheries, Reef ecology, biodiversity, marine pollution, and coastal administration are a few of the well-known choices for a marine biologist to specialize in.
