Last modified: 02 Nov 2022 16:01
This course will introduce you to the rich marine biodiversity across tropical, temperate and polar ecosystems, from both an evolutionary and ecological perspective. You will gain a deep understanding of species discovery and delimitation, how diversity is distributed across the globe, how species are adapted to the marine environment, and how climate change is impacting marine organisms and ecosystems. This course is especially focused on the use of genetic and genomic tools to facilitate biodiversity research. We will explore a variety of marine ecosystems, including coral reefs, soft bottom habitats, open ocean, polar systems, rocky intertidal, sponge gardens, and the deep sea.
The course uses a team-based learning approach that promotes the development of your research, communication, and teamwork skills. The course will consist of weekly lectures, practicals and seminars that encourage you to apply your knowledge of marine biodiversity to problems related to climate change and conservation. In this course, students will gain hands-on experience in analysis and fieldwork.
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | Second Term | Credit Points | 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
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This course addresses several main themes that will help students better understand marine biodiversity across habitats, including species identification and discovery, phenotypic diversity and adaptation, the distribution of diversity through space and time, threats to marine species, and mitigating global biodiversity loss. This course pulls from themes in systematics, phylogenetics, evolutionary biology, marine ecology, and conservation. Prior experience with genetic data is essential.
The course will consist of weekly lectures, practicals and seminars that encourage you to apply your knowledge of marine biodiversity to problems related to climate change and conservation. Lectures will facilitate a solid understanding of the topics and will introduce students to a variety of taxonomic groups and marine ecosystems. Practicals will further sharpen your knowledge and learning through hands-on experience with molecular data analysis, identifying and describing diversity in the rocky intertidal and species distribution modelling. Students will be divided into groups based on a marine ecosystem and will deliver an oral presentation at a weekly seminar that relates to the lecture and practical material.
Students will develop transferrable skills in problem solving, self-motivated learning, research and synthesis, teamwork and collaboration, time management and science communication.
| Description | Value |
|---|---|
| Students should possess a Howie laboratory coat and safety glasses. Further details of requirements can be found on the course's MyAberdeen page. The cost listed here is approximate. | 23.0000 |
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 30 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Report: Fieldwork design and log. Students will receive individual and group feedback on each assessment through MyAberdeen and will receive informal, verbal feedback during practical sessions and field visits. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
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| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 30 | |
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| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Report: 3-minute thesis. Written feedback is provided to individual students on each of the summative assessments. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
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| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 40 | |
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| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Two quizzes worth 20% each. Students will receive individual and group feedback on each assessment through MyAberdeen and will receive informal, verbal feedback during practical sessions and field visits. |
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There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | ||
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| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback | ||||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
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| Reflection | Evaluate | Students will learn how to collect evidence and apply their understanding to multidisciplinary questions in marine biodiversity. |
| Conceptual | Analyse | Develop an understanding of the morphological, behavioural and ecological adaptations that have arisen in marine animals by comparing these features among taxonomic groups and marine ecosystems. |
| Conceptual | Apply | Students will develop an understanding of the diversity of life in our oceans and demonstrate this through their ability to identify & document species and investigate their evolutionary relationships |
| Conceptual | Apply | Students will develop an understanding of the impacts of climate change on marine biodiversity, identifying some key stressors in the marine environment, and employ methods for detecting these impacts |
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