Ecological Modulation and Coastal Management

Code:

RM29

Acronym:

MEOC

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Marine Sciences

Instance: 2022/2023 - 2S (of 20-02-2023 to 14-07-2023)

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Microscopy
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	0	Oficial Plan 2018	1	-	5	50	135

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

The main objective is to supply essential tools and knowledge in the fields of marine biology, ecology and management. The first part focuses on modelling, as a powerful tool for the interpretation of patterns, inference of knowledge, estimation and prediction. The aim is to provide the students with enough knowledge about modelling to allow a correct and valid modelling approach, and to enable them to develop different models used in ecology and coastal management. The second part deals with spatial planning, given that this currently constitutes the selected tool for integrated management of marine space in Europe and Portugal. The aim is to provide the students with enough knowledge about the legal framework and tools of spatial planning and to enable them to be critical when assessing the sustainability of activities and uses of the sea.

Learning outcomes and competences

- Identification of types of models used in ecology, their underlying assumptions, domains, characteristics and limitations.

- Identification of ecological model components and of the procedures that have to be followed to develop them.

- Identification of appropriate models depending on the problem to be analysed and on the features of the available information and/or data.

- Development of simple ecological models.

- Familiarization with the EU integrated maritime policy and the current legal framework for marine spatial planning in Portugal.

- Identification of marine spatial planning and management instruments (e.g. Marine Protected Areas, Artificial Reefs) and examples of implementation in Portugal.

- Development of critical ability and knowledge of appropriate tools to evaluate the sustainability of sea uses.

Working method

Presencial

Program

Introduction to modelling

- Empirical, deterministic, stochastic and mechanistic models; scale, dimension, variables, procedures

- Regression models: linear models, GLM and GAM; development, interpretation and validation

- Geo-statistical models, autocorrelation, interpolation

- Neural networks: functioning and application

- Ecological models: conceptual model; parameterization, calibration, sensitivity analysis

Introduction to spatial planning

- Historical perspective; basic concepts (e.g. sustainable development, social-ecological systems, adaptive management); basic tools (e.g. strategic environmental assessment; environmental impact assessment)

Marine spatial planning EU/Portugal

- European policies and directives; Portuguese policies and laws; other examples and comparative analysis

Planning instruments and current experience

- Marine protected areas; artificial reefs; estuaries

Requirements for adaptive management

- Monitoring; management effectiveness evaluation; public participation

 

Mandatory literature

Venables WN, Smith DM and the R Core Team ; An Introduction to R. Notes on R: A Programming Environment for Data Analysis and Graphics, 2015 (Available at: http://cran.r-project.org/doc/manuals/R-intro.pdf)

Complementary Bibliography

Agardy T, Davis J, Sherwood K, Vesteergaard O ; Taking steps toward marine and coastal ecosystem-based management, UNEP, 2011
Center for Ocean Solutions ; Decision Guide: Decision Support Tools for Marine Spatial Planning, The Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, California, 2011
Zuur AF, Ieno EN, Smith GM ; Analysing Ecological Data, Springer, New York, 2007
Pebesma EJ ; Gstat users manual (Available at: http://www.gstat.org/gstat.pdf)

Teaching methods and learning activities

Presentation of theory and case studies by the teacher, and discussion of contents.

Practical modelling work carried out autonomously and with the support of specific theoretical explanations.

Individual presentation of topics selected by the students based on list of papers to be provided at the start of classes.

Software

"R" (free software, https://www.r-project.org/)

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	20,00
Trabalho escrito	20,00
Trabalho prático ou de projeto	60,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	5,00
Elaboração de projeto	60,00
Trabalho escrito	20,00
Frequência das aulas	50,00
Total:	135,00

Eligibility for exams

According to the current legislation at the University of Porto.

Calculation formula of final grade

The two modules, Ecological Modelling and Coastal Management, will be evaluated separately, having equal weight in the final mark.

For each module, the overall assessment will be based on:

i) individual evaluation and presentation of (at least) one published scientific paper (20%);

ii) the evaluation of presentations of the individual work/project (3 x 20%);

iii) the evaluation of a short final report on the individual work/project (20%).

Presentations will take place during the theoretical-practical classes (4 for each module).

The final mark corresponds to the mean of the modules’ marks.