Last modified: 05 Aug 2021 13:04
This course will introduce you to the vibrant marine life in tropical, temperate and polar ecosystems on our planet, from both an evolutionary and ecological perspective. It gives you the opportunity to describe and identify biodiversity, discover how species are adapted to the marine environment, and investigate the impacts of climate change on marine organisms. This course focuses on coral reefs, soft bottom habitats, open ocean, polar systems, rocky intertidal, sponge gardens, and deep sea.
The course uses a team-based learning approach that promotes the development of your research, communication, and teamwork skills. Students will gain hands-on experience in computing, wet lab practice, and fieldwork.
| Study Type | Postgraduate | Level | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | Second Term | Credit Points | 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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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, morphological diversity and adaptations, 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.
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, morphological comparison, and identifying and describing diversity in the rocky intertidal. 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 |
|---|---|
| Lab notebook and local transportation for rocky intertidal field trip. | 30.0000 |
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 25 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
verbal feedback and individual written feedback |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
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| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 50 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
individualised written feedback |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
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| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 25 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
feedback is embedded within the test and will be released after the deadline for completion has passed. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
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There are no assessments for this course.
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| Procedural | Create | Students will learn how to design a grant proposal to gain funding for a multidisciplinary research project |
| Reflection | Evaluate | Students will learn how to collect evidence and apply their understanding to multidisciplinary questions in marine biodiversity. |
| 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 |
| 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 |
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