Last modified: 30 Jul 2024 11:16
This is a marine biological field course to the Millport Field Centre on the Isle of Cumbrae in the Firth of Clyde. The course introduces you to littoral and nearshore marine life in its natural environment and provides training in methods for sampling, surveying and species identification. You are encouraged to understand the taxonomy and adaptations of marine organisms in an ecological context.
The course typically includes surveying one or more rocky shores and a scientifically renowned sandy shore, sampling plankton and seabed organisms from a small research vessel, and carrying out a group project over two days. Through the various field and laboratory activities and close interaction with course staff, you will deepen your knowledge of marine organisms and their environments, acquire field skills and enhance your abilities in species identification, data collection, analysis, presentation and teamwork.
16–23 May 2025 (Friday to Friday)
Please note that you will be responsible for arranging and paying for your return journey to the ferry terminal in Largs, North Ayrshire, where the class will assemble prior to taking the ferry onto the Isle of Cumbrae. There are good transport links to Largs by road and rail. Detailed guidance on travel options will be provided in advance of the course.
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | Second Term | Credit Points | 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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One or more of these courses have a limited number of places. Priority access will be given to students for whom this course is compulsory. Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions for more details on this process.
This field course will be held based at the Millport Field Centre on the Isle of Cumbrae in the Firth of Clyde. The centre, run by the Field Studies Council, is located on an island which is a ten-minute ferry crossing from the mainland terminal at Largs. The island has a variety of types of coastal habitat within easy reach of the field centre and the biota is correspondingly varied. Being within the semi-enclosed waters of the Firth of Clyde the habitats are comparatively sheltered and safe.
The Field Centre provides modern accommodation and classrooms for lectures/seminars and labwork to process field samples. The centre also has a small research vessel, which provides an opportunity for you to experience marine biological sampling at sea, and to see oceanographic and navigational instruments typical of a modern inshore research and survey vessel.
There is a long history of marine biological research and teaching at Millport (a marine station was first established there in 1885). You will follow in the footsteps of generations of biologists in learning about coastal organisms and habitats, and the methods used to study them in the field.
Details of the course content may vary according to the weather, tides and other factors, but it is expected that the course will include surveying at least one rocky shore and a scientifically renowned sandy shore, sampling seabed organisms and plankton from a research vessel, and a group project carried out over two days. Most activities involve follow-up work in a laboratory classroom.
You will keep a field notebook as a record of your work, and on the last evening of the course, contribute to a group presentation on your mini-project. Feedback is provided on both of these.
The course has the following main aims:
An important general principle is that marine biological fieldwork is expensive and may be disrupted unexpectedly by adverse weather or logistical problems, so it is important to make the most of the time available. Fieldwork commonly therefore involves short periods of intense activity, long hours and a willingness to be adaptable when circumstances necessitate a change in plans. With this in mind, the teaching pattern will be flexible depending on the timing of low tide and other factors. Typically, there will be fieldwork early in the morning followed by a break, then sample and data processing in the laboratory. Work usually needs to continue into the evening to complete sample processing, to collate and review the results of a survey, to carry out more fieldwork, or to write up your field notebook. There will be briefings about field exercises and seminars to review survey results, but there will be no formal lectures. There will also be time to rest and socialise.
| Description | Value |
|---|---|
| Associated cost. | 350.0000 |
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 30 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 42,43,44 | Feedback Weeks | ||
| Feedback |
Informal verbal feedback will be provided on the day, written group feedback will be provided through the VLE |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | Give an account of the main components of phyto- and zooplankton present in the local area at the time of the field course; |
| Procedural | Analyse | Analyse and present marine field data |
| Procedural | Apply | Use keys to identify and classify the common species found on rocky and sandy shores and the sea bed in the local area of the field course; |
| Procedural | Apply | Describe and safely execute appropriate sampling methods for the biota of rocky shores, sandy shores and nearshore seabed; |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 70 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 44 | Feedback Weeks | 47 | |
| Feedback |
Written or recorded feedback will be provided via MyAberdeen on return to Aberdeen. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Evaluate | Discuss the factors affecting zonation of littoral organisms; |
| Procedural | Apply | Use keys to identify and classify the common species found on rocky and sandy shores and the sea bed in the local area of the field course; |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Procedural | Analyse | Analyse and present marine field data |
| Conceptual | Understand | Describe the adaptations and ecological role of representative species and understand the main factors influencing their distribution; |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | Discuss the factors affecting zonation of littoral organisms; |
| Procedural | Apply | Use keys to identify and classify the common species found on rocky and sandy shores and the sea bed in the local area of the field course; |
| Procedural | Apply | Produce accurate, annotated drawings of marine organisms; |
| Reflection | Create | Interact with others in the execution of team-based fieldwork |
| Conceptual | Analyse | Give an account of the main components of phyto- and zooplankton present in the local area at the time of the field course; |
| Procedural | Apply | Describe and safely execute appropriate sampling methods for the biota of rocky shores, sandy shores and nearshore seabed; |
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