MODULE SPECIFICATION
Code: USSJAR-20-3 Title: Estuarine and Marine Ecosystems Version: 7
Level: 3 UWE credit rating: 20 ECTS credit rating: 10
Module type: Standard
Owning Faculty: Health and Life Sciences Field: Applied Sciences
Faculty Committee approval: AS Field Planning Committee Date: 11th May 2009
Approved for Delivery by: N/A
Valid from: September 2009 Discontinued from:
Pre-requisites: USSJNS-40-1 Living World or equivalent
Co-requisites: None
Entry requirements: N/A
Excluded combinations: None
Learning outcomes:
Students will be able to:
• review the principles which underlie the formation of estuarine and marine ecosystems;
• compare the factors that affect diversity in different marine ecosystems;
• critically discuss current theories in estuarine and marine ecology;
• undertake a range of survey and analytical techniques to collect biological and physico-chemical data;
• synthesise information from a variety of sources and disciplines on estuarine and marine ecosystems.
Syllabus outline:
Structure and properties of estuaries: The estuarine environment. Physical characteristics of estuarine systems around the world. Estuarine circulation and sediments. Nutrients and organic matter in estuaries.
Estuarine ecology: The distribution of estuarine organisms. The problems of life in estuaries. Primary producers - plant production and its availability. Intertidal plants, phytoplankton and detritus. Primary consumers - herbivores and detrivores. Infaunal, epifaunal benthos and zooplankton. Secondary consumers - the carnivores. Anthropogenic uses of estuaries. Methods for studying estuarine pollution. The impact of organic enrichment.
Formation of marine ecosystems: The formation and evolution of marine ecosystems. Classification of marine divisions. Biological features of the marine environment. Properties and function of neritic, oceanic and abyssal ecosystems.
Marine plankton: Classification of marine plankton, marine phytoplankton, zooplankton, meroplankton and holoplankton. Seasonality of phytoplankton communities. Factors affecting the distribution and abundance of zooplankton. Nutrition and vertical migration of zooplankton. Methods for sampling plankton.
Marine Nekton: Introduction to nektonic organisms. Biology and ecology of fishes and sea mammals. Nekton taxonomy. Commercial species and the fishing industry. Environmental Impact of commercial fishing techniques - trawling, long lining and gill nets. By-catches and over fishing.
Marine benthic communities: Types and characteristics of substrata. Classification of benthic communities. The measurement and causation of benthic diversity. Feeding and nutrients - deposit, suspension, filter feeders, bioturbation and biodeposition. The ecology of rocky shores. Factors affecting zonation on shores. Factors which influence settlement and colonisation. Introduction to the deep sea and adaptations of deep sea organisms.
Tropical marine ecosystems: The distribution and structure of coral reefs. Physical influences affecting reefs. Biological influences affecting corals - nutrition of corals, coral growth, coral reproduction. Natural and anthropogenic influences on coral reefs. Other tropical marine ecosystems.
Teaching and learning methods:
Module delivery is via lectures, tutorials, laboratory & field practical sessions, and a residential field course. Material will be supported by case studies and key investigations from the literature, where appropriate. Student learning will be supported through the University's E-Learning Environment, Blackboard.
Reading Strategy
All students will be encouraged to make full use of the print and electronic resources available to them through membership of the University. These include a range of electronic journals and a wide variety of resources available through web sites and information gateways. The University Library’s web pages provide access to subject relevant resources and services, and to the library catalogue. Many resources can be accessed remotely. Students will be presented with opportunities within the curriculum to develop their information retrieval and evaluation skills in order to identify such resources effectively.
This guidance will be available either in the module handbook, via the module information on Blackboard or through any other vehicle deemed appropriate by the module/programme leaders
Indicative Reading List:
Barnes, R.S.K. & Hughes, R.N. (1999). An Introduction to Marine Ecology. Blackwell Scientific, Oxford.
Hayward, P.J. (2004) A Natural history of the Seashore. Harper Collins, London.
Kaiser, M.J., Attrill, M., Jennings, S., Thomas, D., Barnes, D., Brierley, A., Polunin, N., Raffaelli, D. & Williams, P. (2005) Marine Ecology. Oxford University Press.
Levington, J.S. (2008) Marine Biology: Function, diversity & ecology. Oxford University Press
Little, C. (2000) The Biology of Soft Shores & Estuaries, Oxford University Press
McLusky, D.S. & Elliot, M. (2004). The Estuarine Ecosystem. Oxford University Press.
Nybakken, J. (2004). Marine Biology: An ecological approach. Benjamin Cummins, New York.
Raffaelli, D. & Hawkins, S. (1996). Intertidal Ecology. Chapman & Hall, London.
Tait, R.V. & Dipper, F.A. (1998). Elements of Marine Ecology. Butterworths, London.
The Open University (1989). Waves, Tides and Shallow Water Processes. Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford.
Assessment
Weighting between components A and B (standard modules only) A: 60% B: 40 %
ATTEMPT 1
First Assessment Opportunity
Component A Element weighting
EX3 |
Examination - 3 hour |
1 |
|
|
Component B
Description of each element Element weighting
CW1 |
Practical Report |
1 |
CW2 |
Essay |
1 |
|
|
Second Assessment Opportunity (further attendance at taught classes) NO
Component A
Description of each element Element weighting
EX3 |
Examination - 3 hour |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
Component B
Description of each element Element weighting
CW3 |
Extended Case Study |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
SECOND (OR SUBSEQUENT) ATTEMPT Attendance at taught classes. YES
Specification confirmed by …………………………………………………Date ……………………………
(Associate Dean/Programme Director)