Overview

This module takes an ecological approach to studying marine systems. The primary goals are to provide students with an understanding of the processes that drive life in marine systems and how life has adapted to marine environments. You will learn about the major marine habitats and their inhabitants including shallow bays and lagoons, estuaries, the abyss, open water habitats, tropical reefs, and rocky shores and discuss how climate change and humans affect the oceans and the organisms within.

This module takes an ecological approach to studying marine systems. The primary goals are to provide students with an understanding of the processes that drive life in marine systems and how life has adapted to marine environments. Students will learn about the major marine habitats and their inhabitants including shallow bays and lagoons, estuaries, the abyss, open water habitats, tropical reefs, and rocky shores and discuss how climate change and humans affect the oceans and the organisms within.

Assessment Strategy

-excellent --A / 70%A very good student should demonstrate comprehensive factual knowledge, critical understanding of theory, evidence of extra reading of primary literature and the ability to integrate this extra knowledge in a relevant manner.

-good --B / 60%A good student should be able to express a thorough factual knowledge of much of the core material presented in the module, and have a competent and detailed ability to critically evaluate the principles and processes governing the interactions of organisms and their environment. Some evidence of further reading and ability to integrate material from the full range of the lecture content.

-threshold --D / 40%A threshold student should be able to express a basic factual knowledge of at least some part of the core material presented in the module, and be able to appreciate how the physiology of an organism fits it for its environment

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate an ability to analyse, synthesise and summarise information critically from lectures, readings and data collected from the field (sheltered and exposed shores).

• Develop practical skills, and interpersonal and teamwork skills by working jointly with other students to undertake field tasks, such as laying quadrats, measuring mollusc species, collating data.

• Identify a broad range of marine animals, their life-history stages and ecosystems and explain their importance within these ecosystems.