Advanced Marine Biology

Module Description

This course is sub-divided into eight component sub-modules corresponding to different marine ecosystems with three lectures of 1 hour each.

Open oceans

• This section of the course will look at the biology of the open oceans and the ways in which variability in the physical and chemical environment on differing temporal and spatial scales influences the distribution of oceanic organisms and their productivity. The key role of the microbial community in driving the biogeochemical cycling of the nutrients required to support productivity within the oceans will be examined and the possible impacts of climate change on these processes will be considered.

Coast

• This section of the course will explore the complex ecological interactions between organisms and the huge environmental gradients found in coastal and estuarine systems. The importance of coastal and estuarine environments and their contribution to ecosystem services will be investigated, and impacts from land and sea-based sources on these will be addressed. This section will include lectures and practical sessions which will include visits to various shoreline habitats and follow-up laboratory analysis of samples and data collected

Mangroves

• This section of the course will first describe the characteristics of mangrove systems including hydrological, physical and geological features as well as distribution and mangrove lifecycle (lecture 1), adaptations and ecological importance of mangrove systems for a vast range of aquatic animals (lecture 2) and finally  factors impacting on mangrove ecosystems (lecture 3).

Marine ecosystem contamination

• This section of the course will introduce how anthropogenic input and ocean acidification impact on marine ecosystems. A first lecture will provide students with knowledge of chemical pollutants and the factors which determine their distribution and concentration in marine environments. The second lecture will describe the biological effects of chemical contamination using specific examples, the methods for monitoring these effects, and the regulatory consequences of these processes. Finally, the third lecture will focus on ocean acidification and provide an understanding of the difficulties and uncertainties in predicting the biological and ecological consequences of future ocean acidification.

Coral Reefs

• This section of the course will describe tropical coral reefs which are some of the Earth’s most massive geological features yet built by some of the smallest and primitive marine organisms. The biology of the coral polyps and their associated symbiotic algae will be used to explain the growth, structure and geographical distribution of reefs. Coral reefs are highly productive, biodiverse and complex marine habitats surrounded by generally unproductive tropical waters, it is the efficient recycling of nutrients through the complex food webs associated with reefs that enables these communities to develop. By understanding the biology of the corals and the trophic pathways we can predict how reefs might respond to the many natural and manmade threats to their survival.

Polar seas

• This section of the course will explore the Arctic and Antarctic marine ecosystems, the adaptations required to live in these environments and how vulnerable they are to climate change/exploitation. The first lecture will look at seasonality, how this drives the changes in the polar ice caps and the resultant impact on productivity and the communities present. The second lecture will look at how marine organisms from microbes to mammals have adapted to live in the extreme cold in the polar seas. While the third lecture will look at the sensitivity of the polar environments to climate change and resource exploitation (whaling, fishing and oil & mineral extraction) and in so doing provide an understanding of anthropogenic impacts on these iconic ecosystems in the past, present and future

Hydrothermal vents and cold seep ecosystems

• This section of the course will cover aspects of the biogeography, energy sources and life cycles of the communities inhabiting these extreme environments in the deep sea. Three lectures will first look at the history of discovery of chemoautotrophic ecosystems and the technological approaches used in their study. Then, the chemical energy sources and the biogeography of hydrothermal vent and cold seeps ecosystems will be explored. The lectures will then describe the physiological and biochemical adaptations of vent and cold seep organisms and finally study case studies of the dispersal mechanisms of vent taxa between geographically disparate vent sites.

Deep seas

• This section of the course will introduce the structure and function of deep-sea communities, and examine the processes related to their activities. The first lecture will define the deep sea environment and provide students with knowledge on the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of these environments and the challenges faced by deep sea organisms. The second lecture will focus on specific organism adaptations to deal with the challenges of deep sea life using named examples, and the mechanisms controlling these processes. Finally, the third lecture will focus on human exploitation of the deep sea environments describing some of the positive benefits of deep sea exploration, and also examine negative impacts of over-exploitation and possible ecological consequences.

Module Objectives

AQUU6MB module aims to provide a clear and concise appreciation and understanding of the major marine habitats of the world, including those in the intertidal, from the deep oceans, from frozen habitats, to tropical and sub-tropical habitats. It will provide an understanding of the complex inter-relationships between marine animals and plants and the physical, chemical and biological nature of those habitats. The module will critically examine major risks likely to affect these species and habitats.