BB513: Marine Ecosystems (5 ECTS)

STADS: 04001301

Level
Bachelor course

Teaching period
The course is offered in the autumn semester.
1st quarter.

Teacher responsible
Email: ebk@biology.sdu.dk

Timetable
Show entire timetable
Show personal time table for this course.

Comment:
Max. deltagerantal: 20

Ekskursion til Vadehavet mandag i uge 37

Prerequisites:
None

Academic preconditions:
The curriculum from BB501, Biology from molecule to ecosystem and BB516/517 Botany and Zoology must be known.

Course introduction
Although the ocean covers about 70% of Earth’s surface, it is probably the least explored part of the globe. The marine environment harbors many unique and spectacular ecosystems that are unknown to most people. The purpose of this course is to provide a thorough knowledge of dominating plant and animal species living in a variety of marine ecosystems. There will be focus on the physical, chemical and biological conditions that are the basis for individual ecosystems and have given them their specific characteristics. Special emphasis will be on the conditions and compositions within and around marine ecosystems in Danish waters.

Expected learning outcome
At the end of the course, the student should be able to:
• Identify and describe the most common marine ecosystems in the global ocean and the dominating marine ecosystems in Danish waters
• Conduct qualitative and quantitative sampling of marine plants and animals
• Identify marine organisms to phylum and class level
• Explain how abiotic and biotic factors affect the composition and distribution of living organisms in the ocean.
• Discuss how interactions among marine organisms and the external environment affect the formation and maintenance of marine ecosystems.
• Explain and evaluate human effects on marine ecosystems.

Subject overview
The following subjects will be included:
1. The chemical composition of seawater
2. The physical environment of the sea and ocean currents
3. Marine biological sampling techniques
4. Phytoplankton, zooplankton and nekton
5. Marine mammals, birds and fish
6. Phytobenthos and zoobenthos
7. Habitats and successions
8. The characteristics of ecosystems
9. Man and the sea

Literature
There isn't any litterature for the course at the moment.

Website
This course uses e-learn (blackboard).

Prerequisites for participating in the exam
None

Assessment and marking:
Approval of cruise- and laboratory report. Passed/Not passed. Internal examination by teacher.

Expected working hours
The teaching method is based on three phase model.

Forelæsninger (3*2 timer),
Eksaminatorier (4*3 timer),
Ekskursion til Vadehavet (8 timer) og efterfølgende laboratorieøvelser (5*4 timer).
Educational activities

Language
No recorded information about the language used in the course.

Remarks
The excursion to the Wadden Sea will be scheduled on one day in September. The exact date will be announced before the start of the course.

Course enrollment
See deadline of enrolment.

Tuition fees for single courses
See fees for single courses.