Coral Reef Ecology

Course manual 2025/2026

Course content

This course is the main field excursion of the Track Freshwater and Marine Biology of the MSc Biological Sciences and focuses on the ecology of coral reefs. Emphasis lies on corals and algae, but the biology and ecology of other reef organisms (i.e. sponges, fish, microbes) will also be discussed.

The course entirely takes place on Curaçao and includes lectures, fieldwork, and experiments. The duration of the entire course is four weeks.

• The first and second week of the course include lectures on corals, algae, fieldwork techniques, and experimental design as well as presentations by scientists who do fieldwork on Curaçao. During the first two weeks, students thus gain knowledge on the taxonomy and ecology of reef organisms through lectures and diving. In groups of two or three, students have to prepare a detailed research plan for their field experiments in week three. This plan will be presented in a seminar.
• In the third week, this research project will be conducted by the students.
• In the fourth week, data will be processed, and all students will present their results in a seminar. 

Diving and snorkeling occur from shore or by boat at several locations around Curaçao or directly in front of Carmabi. In the field, students will learn how to use different sampling techniques and take underwater measurements using modern equipment, e.g., surveys of coral community composition, measurements of temperature and light profiles, and quantification of photosynthetic rates of corals using a Diving-PAM. In the laboratories of Carmabi, small experiments will be performed.

In the weekends, excursions will be made to Curaçao’s undeveloped North Coast (to get an impression of the geological history of the island), caves, inner bays (to see turtles), and the Christoffel Park.

Study materials

Literature

• Coral Reefs: an ecosystem in Transition (2011) - Dubinsky & Stambler
• The Biology of Reefs and Reef Organisms (2013) - Goldberg which will be provided electronically

Other

• Additionally, recent review papers on relevant topics will be provided via Canvas.

Objectives

• Students are able to identify the most abundant coral and macroalgal species to understand community composition (and changes therein) on Caribbean reefs
• Students can quantify the abundance of aforementioned organisms using standard surveying techniques
• Students can determine the physiological state of corals and algae underwater using specialized equipment
• Students can quantify changes in environmental factors such as underwater light availability and collect samples using SCUBA
• Students can formulate a hypothesis based on recent literature, design and execute a research project to test this hypothesis and present the results in a seminar
• Students have obtained skills in experimental design, data analyses and presenting research plans and results.
• Students can explain the geological history of the island the value of coral reefs in providing ecosystem services to human societies and describe the threats that anthropogenic impacts impose on reefs and their capacity to deliver these services.

Teaching methods

• Lecture
• Presentation/symposium
• Fieldwork/excursion
• Self-study
• Working independently on e.g. a project or thesis

Learning activities

Attendance

Additional requirements for this course:

Attendance at lectures is highly recommended. Attendance during practical components is mandatory.

Assessment

The final mark is based on the presented plan of the research (25%), exam on coral and macroalgal identification (25%), field /labwork skills and working attitude (25%), and presentation of results (25%).

The student has passed the course if the final grade is at least 5.5 and if all interim components are graded with 5 or higher.  If a student obtains a grade lower than 5 for the interim component Plan of Research, Exam or Presentation of Result, a resit should be done while being at Curaçao. If a student fails for the Field/Labwork skills, this cannot be repaired. If the presentation grade is below 5, the student will be offered the opportunity to give the presentation again.

Inspection of assessed work

Contact the course coordinator to make an appointment for inspection.

Assignments

Plan of research

• The students (in groups of 2-3 students) formulate a hypothesis based on recent literature, and design a research project to test this hypothesis. This plan will be presented in a seminar using a Powerpoint presentation.

Field/Lab work

• During the lab/fieldwork the students execute the designed research project during 7 days.

Presentation

• At the end of the practical work, the students present their results in a seminar using a Powerpoint presentation.

Exam coral and macroalgae ID

• In the written exam, students identify images of corals and macroalgae and provide the corresponding (Latin) names.

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Course structure

Additional information

Please note that all practicals, excursions and fieldwork require your attendance. Otherwise, the learning objectives cannot be fulfilled.

Costs: Students have to pay for their 1) own travel and accommodation costs in Curaçao, 2) the rental of their diving gear (except tanks) if needed, 3) a medical dive examination, and 4) a DAN diving insurance (Silver).

Students are only allowed to follow one of these two courses: Coral Reef Ecology or Tropical Ecosystems 

Contact information

Coordinator

• dr. Petra Visser

Staff

• Prof. dr. M.J.A. Vermeij
• Dr. P.M. Visser
• Dr. V. Schoepf
• Dr. A.H. Engelen
• Dr. A. Vonk
• S. Arnold