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Advanced theories, concepts and applications of marine ecology to current issues.
The compulsory Field Course will run from 29 August - 1 September 2019.The course is concerned primarily with population and community ecology in marine ecosystems, including hard and soft shores, and the open ocean. These are discussed with reference to the major paradigms and models of ecology. Life histories, demographic characteristics of populations and interactions within and among species of plants, animals and micro-organisms provide the basis for understanding ecological principles. Current issues involving marine ecosystems and human usage are discussed in tutorials, lectures and field exercises.Course aimsMarine Ecosystems has two main aims: to provide students with up-to-date knowledge and understanding of key concepts, processes and factual information in marine ecology, and to enhance skills of students in laboratory and field procedures used by marine ecologists, including sampling and experimental design, analyses, interpretation and communication of ecological data.These aims are achieved through lectures, laboratories, tutorials and a three-day field trip. There are two lectures per week, which discuss concepts, hypotheses and illustrative case histories of a wide range of marine ecosystems. Field-based exercises integrate concepts and techniques from lectures and laboratories and apply them in field setting (both on soft and rocky shores). Skill development is in data acquisition, hypothesis testing, data analysis and presentation, and report writing.Course GoalsThe goals of this course are to discuss methods, fundamental principles, issues and case histories of ecological studies across a wide range of marine ecosystems. By including interactions of ecological processes with the many spatial and temporal scales of physical processes affecting them, this course will provide the necessary skills for understanding marine ecosystems and advancement in ecological disciplines.
By the end of the course, students should have achieved the following:1. Identify key marine species and ecological drivers of species diversity and community processes within a range of marine ecosystems, including hard and soft shores, and the open ocean (assessment: field trip and final exam);2. Develop advanced knowledge of the physical processes affecting marine populations (assessment: final exam);3. Understand the role of key marine species in species diversity, primary production and other community processes (assessment: field trip and final exam);4. An ability to apply ecological theory to the management of current issues in marine ecosystems(assessment: internal report and final exam; 5. Develop practical skills in experimental design, data analysis and scientific communication (assessment: field trip and estuary exercise).Transferable Skills RegisterAs a student in this course, I will develop the following skills:1. Synthesising information from background lectures and the primary literature. This skill underpins the advancement of science and the development of understanding. In lectures and lab- and field based exercises, we will discuss research in a group environment to aid your ability to understand core issues across the marine domain and use as background for assessment tasks.2. Collecting field data. Important for research and in scientific organisations. This will be developed in the field and will provide both hands-on and model-based contexts for data acquisition. 3. Analysing data. Important for research, and in some non-scientific organisations. This skill will be developed as we help you work with data collected in the field and will involve modern analytical and graphical techniques for visualising results. 4. Writing a report on findings. Communication of science is fundamental to its use and advancement. We will have discussions to provide instruction on the elements of successful reports and help you identify these elements with clear marking rubrics.Students will develop the ability to:1. Understand ecological drivers creating and maintaining structure and diversity within a range of marine ecosystems, including hard and soft shores, and the open ocean (assessment task: final exam)2. Understand advanced theory and principles relating to marine ecosystems (assessment task: laboratory projects);3. Understand NZ marine ecosystems and how they compare to other areas of the world (assessment task: final exam);4. Apply ecological theory to the mitigation and management of current issues in marine ecosystems (assessment task: final exam);5. Develop practical skills in field sampling techniques (assessment task: research project and field trip exercises);6. Develop practical skills in analysing data and writing a scientific report (assessment tasks: laboratory and research project report).
(1) BIOL270 and (2) BIOL209 or PSYC206. RP: BIOL212
BIOL374
BIOL212
Compulsory field trip – 29 August - 1 September 2019Field Trip A Location, from Kaikoura to Banks PeninsulaYou will be advised of more field trip details early in the course. Note that the field trip is compulsory and provides the source of major in-term assessment. To attend the field course you need to be capable of safely carrying out physical activities in the outdoors.
David Schiel
Mike Hickford and Mads Thomsen
Jan McKenzie
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Domestic fee $1,024.00
International fee $4,141.00
* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.
This course will not be offered if fewer than 10 people apply to enrol.
For further information see School of Biological Sciences .