Introduction to Marine Biology and Ecology

Code:

CMRM04

Acronym:

CMRM04

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Marine Biology and Ecology

Instance: 2012/2013 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Aquatic Production
Course/CS Responsible:	Master Degree in Marine Sciences - Marine Resources

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MCMRM	16	Specialisation in Marine Biology and Ecology 2008	1	-	5	50	135
		Specialisation in Aquaculture and Fisheries 2008	1	-	5	50	135

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

Transmission of fundamental concepts of marine biology and ecology, for students without basic knowledge.

Program

Theoretical lessons:

I. OCEANS AND SEAS
Definitions, structure and zonation of the physical space; distribution, boundaries, areas, volumes and depths, Coriolis, Ekman spiral, gyres and eddies, surface and bottom currents, cold wall, current system at 0º in the Atlantic, ecological consequences.

II. ABIOTIC and BIOTIC FACTORS
Physical-chemical parameters, macro- and micronutrients, dissolved and particular organic matter, hydrostatic pressure, movement of ascension, illumination;
plankton, definitions (detritus, phyto- and zooplankton, seston, neuston, pleuston, and necton), seasonal variations between nutrients, phyto- and zooplankton in high, low and middle latitudes, and in the North Pacific Ocean, grazing, vertical migration, life cycles, general informations about necton (molluscs, fish, reptiles and marine mammals).

III. METHODS AND INSTRUMENTS
Research vessels, equipment, instruments and methods of physical-chemical and biological samplings.

IV. PRIMARY PRODUCTION
Bacteria, forms and functions, horizontal and vertical distribution; processes and production, examples of the Baltic and the Black Sea;
general scheme, unities and distribution of primary production in the oceans; photosynthetic and respiratory quotients; adaptation to light; compensation and critical depth; production and biomass development of phytoplankton in a water column – development of a bloom.

V. BENTHOS
Definitions – size, feeding types, locomotion; larvae and development; biomass distribution; benthic societies: sand, mud and rock, with examples; phyto- and zoobenthos of hard and soft sediments; benthic interactions; benthos in great depths; food chains and trophic web scheme.

VI. LITTORAL
Definitions; coastal geomorphology; zonation; tides and waves; other abiotic factors; biotic factors like competition for space and food; colonization of different substrates, characteristic species of the littoral zones; erosion; human influence and pollution; protection and conservation of vulnerable areas.

VII. SECONDARY PRODUCTION
Definitions, unities, «Edge Índex», grazing, filtration quotient; calculation of production, biomass-turnover-approach; ecological efficiency and trophic levels; food chains, benthos production, Allen method; structure of a food web, quantification of trophic levels.

VIII. ESTUARIES
Types and classifications; abiotic and biotic factors; “brackish water laws”; representative species; resident, periodical, summer guest, casual, and migratory species of fish; problems – erosion, sand digging, urban pressure, pollution and eutrofication.

IX. UPWELLING
Causes, definitions, localizations, examples of the neritical and oceanic provinces; food chains in upwelling areas; biological production.

X. CORAL REEFS
definition, biological reefs, construction of coral reefs, types of coral reefs, difference between the corals of the Atlantic and the Indopacific Oceans.


Practical lessons:

1. ROCKY LITTORAL
Intertidal zonation of a rocky beach, identification and statistical evaluation of representative species of the marine fauna and flora, differences of colonization of a rocky and a sandy beach.

2. NATURE INTERPRETATION WALK
Fauna and flora of the littoral, dunes and creeks, their recuperation and importance for the conservation of the littoral regarding human and natural aspects.

3. CHANGING LITTORAL
Climatic alterations, rise of the sea level, coastal erosion, regress of the coast and possible measures of mitigation;
Colonization, succession and function of the breakwater, as an artificial reef.


Principal literature

Kaiser, M.J. et al – Marine Ecology, 2005, Oxford University Press.

Levinton, J.S. - Marine Biology - Function, Biodiversity, Ecology. 2001 Oxford University Press.

Tardent – Marine Biology. 1994 Thieme, Stuttgart.

Mandatory literature

Kaiser, M.J. et al ; Marine Ecology, Oxford University Press, 2005
Levinton, J.S. ; Marine Biology - Function, Biodiversity, Ecology , Oxford University Press , 2001
Tardent; Marine Biology , Thieme (Stuttgart), 1994

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoretical lessons with projection of slides, overhead transparencies, and videos,
Practical lessons outdoors (Aguda´s beach, in Vila Nova de Gaia); base: Littoral Station of Aguda «ELA».

Evaluation Type

Evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Description	Type	Time (hours)	Weight (%)	End date
Attendance (estimated)	Participação presencial	180,00
	Total:	-	0,00

Calculation formula of final grade

Written examination

Classification improvement

Written examination

Observations

have a look: www.fundacao-ela.pt