BB75: The Biology of Marine Mammals (6 ECTS)

STADS: 400149

Level


Teaching period

Fall semester in odd years. Next time, fall 2002.

Teacher responsible
No responsible teachers found, contact the department if necessary

Timetable
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Comment:
NB! Der afholdes obligatoriske laboratorieøvelser på Marinbiologisk Feltstation i Kerteminde i perioden 6. oktober – 12. oktober (uge 41).

Prerequisites:
None

Academic preconditions:
Completion of an introductory biology course is required. Knowledge of genetics, and animal physiology and behavior is recommended. (For SDU students: BB08 or BB11 passed, BB10 and BB14 taken simultaneously. Animal behavior (BB42) and physiology (BB16) recommended.)

Course introduction
The goal of the course is to introduce the students to the biology of marine mammals with emphasis placed on seals and whales through a modern text, original research papers and practical experience.

Expected learning outcome


Subject overview
Some topics covered are evolution and systematics, population genetics, social organization and behavior, distribution, feeding, respiration, conservation, sensory systems, anatomy and physiology.

Literature

Berta, JL Sumich (1999) Marine mammals, evolutionary biol-ogy. Academic Press, San Diego. Særtryk af originale afhandlinger.(Supplementer litteratur: Kinze,C.C. (2001), Havpattedyr i Nordatlanten. Gads Forlag, Copenhagen.

Website
This course uses e-learn (blackboard).

Prerequisites for participating in the exam
None

Assessment and marking:
Each student must give at least one seminar and participate actively in the other seminars. Project reports must be approved. The course ends with an oral exam in cooperation with an external examiner and based on specific readings and background in the group report. The grade is based on a scale of 13.

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

Den "teoretiske del" (28 timer) består af et antal forelæsninger over emner fra lærebogen. Der afholdes et mindre antal gæsteforelæsninger over særlige emner, og til hver af ddisse uddeles en baggrundsartikel til gennemlæsning af deltagerne. De studerende skal parvis holde ét seminar over en relevant artikel fra faglitteraturen. Der påregnes to ekskursioner (dagtur) som for eksempel til Zoologisk Museum, København, og Gram Museum. Til disse vil tilknyttes faglige orienteringer. Et praktisk projekt (32 timer) (minihold på to til fire personer) gennemføres på instituttets Maringbiologisk Forskningscenter i samarbejde med Fjord og Bæltcentret med mulighed for projekter udført i felten (Fyns Hoved) og i Odense Zoo. Havpattedyr-arter, som er til rådighed, er spættede sæler (Phoca vitulina), søløver (Zalophus californianus), søkøer (Trichechus manatus), og marsvin (Phocoena phocoena). Emner for de praktiske projekter uddeles under kurset. En kort rapport over projektet skal godkendes og fremlægges af miniholdet i seminarform.
Educational activities

Language
This course is taught in English.

Remarks
Limited to 16 participants Please remember to register for examination/evaluation. If agreed the course can be held in English.

Course enrollment
See deadline of enrolment.

Tuition fees for single courses
See fees for single courses.