Seaweeds

Pre-requisites for enrolment

No previous knowledge required.

Content of Course

1. Introduction to seaweeds (Algae): macroscopic and microscopic, freshwater and marine; the study and uses of seaweeds in the nineteenth century; ecology of the seashore and the conditions under which seaweeds have adapted.

2. The Phaeophyta - brown seaweeds, identifying the large, easily recognisable plants of the shore and studying the diversity of forms of related species.

3. The Rhodophyta – red seaweeds, the largest, and most diverse group, containing filamentous, foliose and calcareous forms.

4. The Chlorophyta – green seaweeds, identifying species most closely-related to land plants, some of which can tolerate freshwater, and some of which cause major problems to man.

5. There will be a field meeting to study seaweeds on the coast in week four or five, visiting a shore on the Firth of Forth (travel by public transport / minibus).

6. Uses of seaweeds – the ‘kelp’, iodine, alginate and agar industries (both as crofting industries and as major international chemical enterprises), edible seaweeds in the UK and elsewhere, fouling of ships and gas platforms and other problems caused by seaweeds.

Teaching method(s)

Lecture and discussion based with one field meeting.

Learning outcomes

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

• Recognise red, brown and green seaweeds and be able to identify a number of species;

• Have a knowledge of the study of seaweeds showing their importance in nineteenth century culture;

• Understand the uses made of this group of plants and the problems they can cause.

Sources

Core Readings

Essential:

• Field guide to the seashore (e.g. Collin’s, Hamlyn, etc)

Recommended:

• Newton, L., 1931. A Handbook of the British seaweeds. [Long out-of-date, but still the only volume containing all the species]

• Brodie, J., Maggs, CA & John, D.M., 2007. The green seaweeds of Britain and Ireland. London: British Phycological Society.

• Dickinson, C. I., 1963. British Seaweeds.

• Hiscock, S., 1979. A field key to the British brown seaweeds (Phaeophyta). FSC.

• Hiscock, S., 1986. A field key to the British red seaweeds. FSC.

• Morrell & Roberts, 2000. Common seaweeds. [Fold-out chart] FSC.

• Hardy, F. G. & Guiry, M.D.R, 2003. A Check-list and Atlas of the Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland. BPS.

• Thomas, D., 2002. Seaweeds. London: Natural History Museum.

• Yonge, C.M., 1949. The Sea Shore. (Collin’s New Naturalist).

• Meinesz, A., 2001. Killer algae. with a foreword by David Quammen; translated by Daniel Simberloff. London: University of Chicago Press.

Web Sources

http://www.brphycsoc.org/documents/ChkList%26%20Atlas.pdf

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.