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Current Issues in Marine Biology

Module description

With the ever-growing human population, the marine environment is increasingly under threat from a range of anthropogenic and natural disturbances. Some major threats include habitat loss due to coastal development, noise and plastic pollution, and increased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, resulting in ocean acidification and global warming. This module will build on the fundamental principles taught in the second year Marine Biology module and focuses on the current research issues in the field of Marine Biology. We will discuss these global ocean challenges and their impacts on marine wildlife, as well as evaluating the methods that are currently used to study these effects and proposed solutions to these challenges with the aim of better managing and protecting the biodiversity in our oceans.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module aims to develop a critical awareness of current issues in marine biology. You will develop skills in sourcing and interpreting scientific literature, designing and analysing experimental methodologies, evaluating results, and communicating facets of marine science.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Outline and critically analyse the current threats facing the marine environment globally.
• 2. Describe in detail and analyse the impacts of a range of anthropogenic stressors on the health, physiology and behaviour of marine species and the functioning of marine environments including Arctic ecosystems and coral reefs (and associated habitats: sea grass beds and mangroves).
• 3. Critically evaluate the tools and methodologies employed for both studying the impacts of these global challenges on marine species and ecosystems and for mitigating the impacts of anthropogenic disturbances on marine ecosystems by management or restoration efforts.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 4. Evaluate in detail approaches to our understanding of organismal biology and ecology (with some molecular and chemical components) with reference to primary literature, reviews and research articles.
• 5. Analyse and evaluate independently a range of research-informed literature and synthesise research-informed examples from the literature into written work.
• 6. Conceptualise and design a novel experimental plan for a piece of research which addresses a knowledge gap for an environmental problem.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 7. Confidently and effectively communicate arguments, evidence and conclusions using written and oral means in a manner appropriate to the intended audience individually and as part of a group.
• 8. Devise and sustain, with little guidance, a logical and reasoned argument, linking ideas from different sources, drawing evidence based and independent conclusions.

Syllabus plan

Lectures will cover:

• ocean warming and acidification;
• blue carbon and the carbon pump;
• marine restoration (with associated assessed coursework)
• threats to the Arctic ecosystem;
• plastic pollution;
• ocean challenges and solutions;
• threats to reefs;
• marine noise pollution;
• Use of population genetics in studying connectivity and fisheries management.

Accessibility statement:

As part of this module, you will undertake group work (~10 people) and a presentation in class towards your summative work for the module. This will include a 2-3hr group workshop to develop your presentations.  Breaks are possible and students are able to leave the workshop for short periods. Please contact the module coordinator if you require any particular support.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons that are approved by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. If deferred, the format and timing of the re-assessment for each of the summative assessments is detailed in the table above ('Details of re-assessment'). The mark given for a deferred assessment will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral - if you have failed the module (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 50%) and the module cannot be condoned, you will be required to complete a re-assessment for each of the failed components on the module. The format and timing of the re-assessment for each of the summative assessments is detailed in the table above ('Details of re-assessment'). If you pass the module following re-assessment, your module mark will be capped at 50%.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE page: A range of scientific papers and links to relevant websites will be made available throughout the module via ELE.

Key words search

Marine, environment, aquatic, global warming, ocean acidification, over-fishing, coral reefs, threats, fisheries, marine protected areas, plastic pollution, connectivity, arctic, connectivity, restoration.