OCEAN BIOLOGY

OCEAN BIOLOGY
Course Code
BI 25Z2
Credit Points
15
Course Coordinator
Professor U Witte

Pre-requisites

BI1004 or MR 1008

Overview

The aim is to develop a pragmatic understanding of the biology of marine organisms with an emphasis on species of commercial significance. Marine food chains are reviewed including micro-organisms, algae and plankton in relation to primary production in the seas. Animals considered include sponges, corals, jelly-fish, rotifers, tube-worms, mussels, scallops, squid, shipworm, barnacles, copepods, prawns, krill, sea-urchins, starfish, sharks, herring, halibut, tuna and whales. For each species the life cycle and production will be discussed together with impacts and significance to man. The course is accessible to non-biologists. For biologists it provides a specialist introduction to marine species.

Structure

12 weeks - 3 one-hour lectures and 1 three-hour laboratory per week.

To pass this course a pass must be achieved in BOTH the theory exam and the in-course assessment.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (40%), 1 one-hour written examination (20%). In-course assessment of laboratory work (40%).

Resit: A resit exam, in the same format as the main exam. This may contain material from both the practical and lecture components of the course.