Marine and estuarine ecosystems play a central role in the health of our planet. This course examines the key ecological processes that shape and maintain marine communities, and how healthy marine ecosystems are affected by e.g. overfishing, eutrophication, habitat modification and rapid climate change. Topics to be covered will include: biogeochemical cycling and productivity, marine population and community ecology, biogeography, sustainable management and conservation. Students will gain first-hand experience in quantitative data collection and analysis, experimental design and field work in the Baltic Sea.
The course can be taken in parallel to Freshwater Ecology and Fish Ecology.
Learning outcomes
Individual students will demonstrate:
- Explain important ecological processes including human impact in different parts of the world’s ocean;
- Describe, collect and explain field and laboratory data;
- Perform routine analytical measurements (pH, temperature, salinity, microscopic observation, water sampling, qualitative analysis of plankton and macroalgae);
- Identify and describe the occurrence of different key groups of bacteria, phytoplankton, zooplankton, macroalgae and fish in relation to environmental factors;
- Describe, analyze and evaluate abiotic and biotic conditions in different parts of the world’s ocean;
- Work collaboratively, critically analyze and discuss ideas and conclusions during seminars;
- Define a research question, then plan and carry out a study to address this question using experimental methods;
- Analyze quantitative and qualitative data and draw conclusions about experimental results, including oral and written presentation and
- Communicate ideas and principles in marine ecology with specialists, the public and decision makers.
Prerequisites
Chemistry 15 credits and Biology 60 credits, including Ecology 15 credits, or equivalent.
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