BS114-4-SP-CO:
Marine Biology Field Skills
2024/25
Life Sciences (School of)
Colchester Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 4
Current
Monday 13 January 2025
Friday 21 March 2025
15
04 July 2024
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
BSC C161 Marine Biology (Including Foundation Year),
BSC C164 Marine Biology,
BSC CC60 Marine Biology (Including Year Abroad),
BSC CC64 Marine Biology (Including Placement Year),
MSCIB097 Tropical Marine Biology,
MSCIBA97 Tropical Marine Biology (Including Placement Year),
MSCIBB97 Tropical Marine Biology (Including Year Abroad)
This module concentrates on developing research skills in marine biology and is taught during a residential marine field trip to the Marine Biological Association in Plymouth.
Students will gain experience in species identification, and measuring the diversity and distribution of organisms in marine habitats of a wide variety of animals and algae, and use a number of different techniques for describing the distribution and abundance of organisms. Students will also gain experience in the design of research programmes, in data analysis, and in oral presentation. These skills are linked to training in production and delivery of high quality scientific reports.
The aims of this module are:
- To provide knowledge of marine invertebrate and algal identification, classification and distribution patterns in temperate waters.
- To develop competence in the use of taxonomic keys to recognise and name common species of aquatic plants and animals found in the habitats studied.
- To develop competence in experimental design, data handling and analysis appropriate to marine field research.
- To gain the ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally, accessing and using published resources appropriately.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Develop knowledge of marine invertebrate and algal identification, classification and distribution patterns in temperate waters.
- Become competent in the use of taxonomic keys to recognise and name common species of aquatic plants and animals found in the habitats studied.
- Become competent in experimental design, data handling and analysis appropriate to marine field research.
- Develop the ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally, accessing and using published resources appropriately.
Typically, each day will involve a period of fieldwork, followed by subsequent work in the laboratory (observing and drawing specimens, identifying organisms using keys, data collation and analysis).
As well as laboratory and fieldwork, there will usually be lectures, class discussions (in which you will be expected and encouraged to participate), presentations on aspects of the class data or other set tasks and introductory talks to the following day’s work.
This module will be delivered via:
- Two 1-hour preparatory seminars.
- Four days, residential field course in March at the Marine Biological Association of the UK, Plymouth.
This module does not appear to have any essential texts. To see non - essential items, please refer to the module's
reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
DAI |
|
20% |
| Practical |
Medical Forms |
|
5% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Eoin O'Gorman, email: e.ogorman@essex.ac.uk.
Prof Thomas Cameron, Dr Natalie Hicks, Mr Russell Smart
School Undergraduate Office, email: bsugoffice (Non essex users should add @essex.ac.uk to create the full email address)
Yes
No
No
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
Of 3 hours, 3 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.
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