Marine Biology

Studiewijzer 2015/2016

Globale inhoud

A large part of the earth surface (more than 70%) consists of seas and oceans. Marine ecology is the branch of ecological science concerned with organisms that live in or near the sea and ocean, their behaviors, and their interactions with the environment. The course starts with theoretical part on the physical, chemical and biological processes that are of key importance for the functioning of marine ecosystems. Furthermore, attention will be given to the effects of human invention on the functioning of marine ecosystems.

Topics of the lectures include :

• Ocean formation;
• Physical and chemical properties of water; 
• Ocean circulation patterns;  
• Marine biogeochemistry;  
• Phytoplankton, nutrients and light; 
• Zooplankton; 
• Marine food webs; 
• Marine biogeography and biodiversity;  
• Remote sensing of oceans;  
• Fishes and biology of fisheries;
• The role of oceans in the carbon cycle and climate change.

Besides these regular lectures, each student is challenged to give a lecture on a literature study about a marine subject of their own choice. There is one-day excursion planned to the Royal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research (NIOZ at Texel) to get acquainted with the Dutch marine institute.

For the fieldwork campaign we will travel to the field station Ramalhete from the  University of the Algarve in Faro, situated in the mesotidal area Ria Formosa, Portugal. Each group of 5 students gets an assignment to explore a specific component of the ecosystem (i.e. plankton, seagrass, or macrofauna). With your group you will write a research proposal based upon the lectures and scientific literature. At the first day in Portugal you will present your research proposal, afterwards the projects can start. The sampling in the Ria Formosa can be done in wading trousers at low tide, or by snorkeling. In the laboratory, in the area outside of the field station or in the field simple experiments and measurements can be performed. If the weather allows, we will also make a boat trip to get an overview of the surrounding area. Finally, the students will analyze their data, present the results and write a report.

Studiemateriaal

Literatuur

• Book: Oceanography and Marine Biology by David W. Townsend. ISBN 9780878936021

Overig

• additional literature will be posted on Blackboard

Leerdoelen

• To obtain insight in the biological, physical, and chemical interactions in marine ecosystems, at the scale of a few micrometers (turbulence and growth of plankton) to thousands of kilometers (ocean currents and their role in the climate).
• To learn to handle information from different disciplines, like biological, chemical, and physical oceanography.
• To give a lecture on basis of a book chapter and a literature study.
• To gain insight in the dynamics of marine ecosystems by fieldwork in the tidal area of the Ria Formosa, Portugal.
• Develop skills in the design of  a research project and the presentation of the design in the form of research proposal and a presentation.
• Developing practical skills by performing of the research project.
• Developing skills in the analyses of the research data
• Developing skills to put in interpreting the results and putting them in a broader ecological context.
• Developing skills in the presentation of the results in de form of a scientific article and presentation.
• Developing communication skills by working and functioning in a group.

Onderwijsvormen

• Hoorcollege
• Werkcollege
• Veldwerk/excursie
• (Computer)practicum

The first 4 weeks the course consists of lectures, a day-excursion to the NIOZ, a computer practicum, and a literature study. Results of the literature study are presented in the form of a lecture. The last 4 weeks is the practical part of the course: writing and presenting a research proposal, fieldwork campaign, data analysis, presentation of results and finally writing of scientific report.

Verdeling leeractiviteiten

Aanwezigheid

Aanwezigheidseisen opleiding (OER-B):

• Deelname aan alle (computer)practica, veldwerk en werkcolleges in het curriculum is verplicht.
  

Aanvullende eisen voor dit vak:

Aanvullende eisen voor dit vak:

Attendance at lectures is highly recommended.

Toetsing

Opdrachten

Preparing and giving a student lecture

• Topic must be marine ecological

Computer assignment

• Assignments about the interpretation of satelite images of NASA and the interpretation of reflection-spectra, during the Remote Sensing practical.

Writing a research proposal

• In groups, to prepare for field work.

Presenting research proposal

• On your first day in Portugal you will present the plans from the research proposal.

Report results research

Onderstaande opdrachten komen aan bod in deze cursus:

•    Naam opdracht 1 : beschrijving 2
•    Naam opdracht 2 : beschrijving 1
•    ....

Fraude en plagiaat

Dit vak hanteert de algemene 'Fraude- en plagiaatregeling' van de UvA. Hier wordt nauwkeurig op gecontroleerd. Bij verdenking van fraude of plagiaat wordt de examencommissie van de opleiding ingeschakeld. Zie de Fraude- en plagiaatregeling van de UvA: www.uva.nl/plagiaat

Weekplanning

Rooster

Contactinformatie

Coördinator

• prof. dr. Jef Huisman