Marine Biology and Ecology

Pre-requisites for enrolment

No previous knowledge required.

Content of Course

1. Oceans and Ecosystems: From past to present.  The formation of the earth and the oceans, the origins of life and the properties of water.

2. The Shoreline: Coastal geomorphology and its influence on living creatures.  Physical and ecological factors influencing the distribution of marine life.

3. The Continental Shelf: The habitat and man's use of it, oil rigs, wind farms and recreation.

4. Open Water: Examples of global ocean ecosystems and the role currents and winds play in the distribution of organisms and pollutants.

5. Fish biology and natural history:  Fishing and fisheries and their impact on natural stock levels.

6. Coral Reefs:  The importance of symbiosis and importance of corals in the ecosystem. Environmental issues of ecotourism and climate change.

7. Deep Sea:  Benthic dwellers and adaptations to extreme living conditions.  Hydrothermal vent, cold seeps and life without the sun.

8. Climate Change and Global Warming. The North and South Pole ecosystems and the impact of melting ice caps.  Gaia, the bigger picture and the relationship between biology and climate.

9. Field Trip:  A trip to a local rocky shore and a chance to work in groups to examine the organisms found there and how their distribution is affected by the physical environment (may be on different weeks depending on tides).

10. Giants of the sea and the future of the oceans. The biology and habitats of squid, sharks, dolphins and whales and a summary of the main threats to the oceans posed by man.

Teaching method(s)

Each class will be part lecture and part discussion.  Use of relevant video clips to illustrate key topics and mystery objects will be provided to support discussions.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

• Describe the various habitats in the marine environment and the specific characteristics of each;

• Recognise some of the creatures in these habitats and their physical adaptations associated with dwelling there;

• Explain the environmental threats facing these habitats and the consequences of these on the global environment.

Sources

Core Readings

Essential:

No single suitable textbook covers all the course material. Class handouts with lecture notes, diagrams and glossary will be provided instead.

Recommended:

• Barnes , R.S.K. and Hughes, R.N.,1999.  An introduction to marine ecology. 3rd ed.  Blackwell scientific, UK.

• Campbell, A.C., 2004.  The Hamlyn guide to the seashore and shallow seas of Britain and Europe.  Hamlyn, London.

• Nybakken, J.W. and Bertness, M.D.,  2005.  Marine biology: An ecological approach.  6^th ed.  Benjamin Cummings, San Francisco.

Web Sources

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/habitats

http://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk

http://www.sciencedaily.com

Class Handouts

Handouts will be provided.

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email COL@ed.ac.uk or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.