Marine Ecology

Code:

BIOL3010

Acronym:

BIOL3010

Level:

300

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Biology

Instance: 2024/2025 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Biology
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Biology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
L:B	45	Official Study Plan	3	-	6	48	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

Develop and build with the students knowledge of key marine and coastal ecosystems and their functioning. Discuss the potential of marine ecosystems and main and risks faced by them, as well as methods for their conservation . Demonstrate and discuss the principal methods for studying and monitoring these ecosystems. Develp the ability of the students to plan and perform a work-study on marine ecosystems, as well as their ability to render and discuss results of field  and laboratory observations and experiments. 

Learning outcomes and competences

Ability to demonstrate knowledge of key marine and coastal ecosystems and their functioning. Ability to demonstrate knowledge of the principal methods for studying and monitoring these ecosystems. Ability to demonstrate knowledge of the main potencial and risks faced by these ecosystems, as well as methods for their conservation. Ability to plan and develop a work-study onmarine ecosystems. Ability to interpret results of field  and laboratory observation.

Working method

Presencial

Program

1.The ocean and its variability 2. description of physical properties of the ocean and its variability with space and time, illustrating with their influence on living beings. 3.The marine organisms. Description of major animal groups that inhabit the ocean, their characteristics and life cycle 4. Characterization of different marine ecosystems such as rocky and sandy beaches, the continental shelf and slope, coastal lagoons and estuaries, pelagic systems, deep sea ecosystems, marshes, seagrass meadows, kelp forests, mangroves and coral reefs. 5. Oceans produtivity . Variation of oceanic productivity with the physical-chemical factors and with time, the upwelling currents and its relation to productivity. 6. Food chains, intra-and interspecific predation, defense systems. 7.The marine organisms as a resource and its sustainable use. 8. Human impacts of activities on marine ecosystems. 9. Study methods and monitoring of marine ecosystems. 10. Conservation of Marine ecosystems.

Mandatory literature

Barnes R. S. K. Richard Stephen Kent; An introduction to marine ecology. ISBN: 978-0-632-02047-8 0-632-02047-4
Campbell Andrew C.; Fauna e flora do litoral de Portugal e da Europa. ISBN: 9789729595110
KAISER, M., M. ATTRILL, S. JENNINGS, D. THOMAS, D. BARNES, A. BRIERLEY, N. POLUNIN, D. RAFFAELLI, AND P. WILLIAMS (Eds.) ; Marine Ecology: Processes, Systems and Impacts, Oxford University Press, London, 2011
Morton Brian; Ecologia costeira dos Açores. ISBN: 978-972-97774-1-7 972-97774-1-1
Saldanha Luiz; Fauna submarina atlântica. ISBN: 978-972-1-03875-2

Teaching methods and learning activities

Lectures, discussion, practical works, fieldwork

keywords

Natural sciences > Environmental science > Ecology > Aquatic ecology
Natural sciences > Biological sciences > Biology > Aquatic biology
Natural sciences > Environmental science > Ecology > Ecosystems

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	70,00
Trabalho de campo	5,00
Trabalho laboratorial	5,00
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	20,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	84,00
Frequência das aulas	24,00
Trabalho laboratorial	24,00
Elaboração de relatório/dissertação/tese	20,00
Trabalho de campo	10,00
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	1,00
Total:	163,00

Eligibility for exams

students must assist 3/4 of tp and present and discuss a report 

Calculation formula of final grade

The assessment has two obligatory components: continuous assessment and final examination. Continuous assessment: report based in fieldwork and lab work, with maximum value of 4.0; discussion and debate, 2.0 values. Final exam: maximum of 14 values.
A minimum of 9.5 in the sum of the continuous assessment and final examination, is needed for approbation, plus a minimum of 25% in continuous assessment and 25% in the final exam. The exam can be replaced by two tests, each one  7 values.

Examinations or Special Assignments

see above

Internship work/project

Classification improvement

Students are not allowed to improve marks obtained in practical classes/REPORTS/DISCUSSION

Observations

The coordinator of this UC is Professor Sara Antunes
Juri of the UC: Sara Antunes and Natividade Vieira