University of Essex

BS251-5-AU-CO:
Marine Biodiversity

The details

Year: 2024/25

Department: Life Sciences (School of)

Campus: Colchester Campus

Term: Autumn

Level: Undergraduate: Level 5

Status: Current

Start date: Thursday 03 October 2024

End date: Friday 13 December 2024

Credits: 15

Last updated: 30 September 2024

Requisites for this module

Pre-requisites: (none)

Co-requisites: BS257

Pre and / or co-requisites: (none)

Prohibited modules: (none)

Key module (requisite for): BS303, BS417

Key module for

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)

Module description

This module will introduce some key topics in marine biodiversity including methods of assessing marine biodiversity, distribution of species in space and time, maintenance of marine biodiversity, and regulation of populations.

The module also introduces key marine taxa. Selected examples will focus on adaptations in planktonic organisms, biodiversity hot-spots such as coral reefs and explore disturbance and succession. The self learning component investigates the utility of nucleotide databases for reference RNA and environmental metagenomes in biodiversity research. Two practicals will examine the biodiversity in muddy and sandy shores, and the morphological and genetic diversity in marine amphipods.

Module aims

The aim of this module is:

to introduce key topics in marine biodiversity

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:

Describe the key methods in assessing marine biodiversity

Explain the patterns of diversity in marine systems, considering gradients of diversity on global scales, with depth in the oceans and through evolutionary time

Explain the mechanisms that generate and maintain patterns of diversity

Show competence in retrieving relevant information from diverse sources, interpreting scientific data and demonstrate ability to organize and execute a self-learning task

Demonstrate competence in written communication and information retrieval

Demonstrate competence in data presentation, analysis and interpretation, numeracy, information retrieval and written communication

Module information

No additional information available.

Learning and teaching methods

This module will be delivered via:

20 x 1 hour lectures (including 1 on directed learning material and 1 or more covering DAI material)
plus 1 revision class before summer exam.

There will be a total of 2 practicals: the first will run over two days (4 + 3 hours), the second is scheduled to run for 3 hours.

Bibliography

Kaiser, M.J. (2020a) Marine ecology: processes, systems, and impacts. Third edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/611171.
Charles B. Miller and Patricia Wheeler (2012) Biological oceanography. 2nd ed. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/127117.
Jones, A.M., Reed, R. and Weyers, J.D.B. (2022) Practical skills in biology. Seventh edition. Harlow, England: Pearson. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/1130237.
Hayward, P.J. and Ryland, J.S. (2017) 'Order Amphipoda', in Handbook of the Marine Fauna of North-West Europe. 2nd ed. Oxford: OUP Oxford, pp. 350–390. Available at: https://academic.oup.com/book/26914/chapter/196017866#269246019.
Costa, F.O. et al. (2004) 'Application of RAPD DNA fingerprinting in taxonomic identification of amphipods: a case-study with Gammarus species (Crustacea: Amphipoda)', Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the UK, 84(1), pp. 171–178. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0025315404009038h.
Wilson, A.B., Boates, J.S. and Snyder, M. (1997) 'Genetic isolation of populations of the gammaridean amphipod, Corophium volutator, in the Bay of Fundy, Canada', Molecular Ecology, 6(10), pp. 917–923. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-294X.1997.00270.x.
Williams, J.G.K. et al. (1990) 'DNA polymorphisms amplified by arbitrary primers are useful as genetic markers', Nucleic Acids Research, 18(22), pp. 6531–6535. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/18.22.6531.
Emmerson, M.C. et al. (2001) 'Consistent patterns and the idiosyncratic effects of biodiversity in marine ecosystems', Nature, 411(6833), pp. 73–77. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1038/35075055.
Ives, A.R. and Carpenter, S.R. (2007) 'Stability and Diversity of Ecosystems', Science, 317(5834), pp. 58–62. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1133258.
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Douglas B. Rusch et al. (2007) 'The Sorcerer II Global Ocean Sampling Expedition: Northwest Atlantic through Eastern Tropical Pacific', PLoS Biology, 5(3). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.0050077.
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Attrill, M.J. and Rundle, S.D. (2002) 'Ecotone or Ecocline: Ecological Boundaries in Estuaries', Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 55(6), pp. 929–936. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1006/ecss.2002.1036.
J. A. Coyer et al. (2007) 'Hybridization and introgression in a mixed population of the intertidal seaweeds Fucus evanescens and F. serratus', Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 20(6), pp. 2322–2333. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1420-9101.2007.01411.x.
Gabrielle Rocap et al. (2003) 'Genome divergence in two Prochlorococcus ecotypes reflects oceanic niche differentiation', Nature, 424(6952), pp. 1042–1047. Available at: https://www.nature.com/articles/nature01947.
Michael Steinke et al. (2011) 'Concentrations of dimethylsulfoniopropionate and dimethyl sulfide are strain-specific in symbiotic dinoflagellates (symbiodinium sp., dinophyceae)', Journal of Phycology, 47(4), pp. 775–783. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1529-8817.2011.01011.x.
Attrill, M.J., Wright, J. and Edwards, M. (2007) 'Climate-related increases in jellyfish frequency suggest a more gelatinous future for the North Sea', Limnology and Oceanography, 52(1), pp. 480–485. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4319/lo.2007.52.1.0480.
Karl, D.M., Bidigare, R.R. and Letelier, R.M. (2001) 'Long-term changes in plankton community structure and productivity in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre: The domain shift hypothesis', Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography, 48(8–9), pp. 1449–1470. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0967-0645(00)00149-1.
Platt, T., Fuentes-Yaco, C. and Frank, K.T. (2003) 'Spring algal bloom and larval fish survival', Nature, 423(6938), pp. 398–399. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1038/423398b.
Smetacek, V. and Passow, U. (1990) 'Spring bloom initiation and Sverdrup's critical-depth model', Limnology and Oceanography, 35(1), pp. 228–234. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4319/lo.1990.35.1.0228.
Sverdrup, H.U. (1953) 'On Conditions for the Vernal Blooming of Phytoplankton', ICES Journal of Marine Science, 18(3), pp. 287–295. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/18.3.287.
DUARTE, C. (2007) 'Marine ecology warms up to theory', Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 22(7), pp. 331–333. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2007.04.001.
Beal, L.M. et al. (2011) 'On the role of the Agulhas system in ocean circulation and climate', Nature, 472(7344), pp. 429–436. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1038/nature09983.
McQuaid, C.D. (2010) 'Marine Connectivity: Timing Is Everything', Current Biology, 20(21), pp. R938–R940. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2010.09.049.
Smith, C.R. et al. (2017) 'Data are inadequate to test whale falls as chemosynthetic stepping-stones using network analysis: faunal overlaps do support a stepping-stone role', Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 284(1863). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2017.1281.
Kiel, S. (2016) 'A biogeographic network reveals evolutionary links between deep-sea hydrothermal vent and methane seep faunas', Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 283(1844). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2016.2337.
Begon, M. and Townsend, C.R. (2021b) Ecology. 5th Edition. Hoboken: John Wiley and Sons Ltd. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/656776.
Jennings, S., Kaiser, M.J. and Reynolds, J.D. (2001) Marine fisheries ecology. Oxford: Blackwell Science. Available at: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=274769.
Waldie, P.A. et al. (2011) 'Long-Term Effects of the Cleaner Fish Labroides dimidiatus on Coral Reef Fish Communities', PLoS ONE, 6(6). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0021201.
Kayal, M. et al. (2012) 'Predator Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster planci) Outbreak, Mass Mortality of Corals, and Cascading Effects on Reef Fish and Benthic Communities', PLoS ONE, 7(10). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0047363.
Hixon, M.A. (1997) 'Synergistic Predation, Density Dependence, and Population Regulation in Marine Fish', Science, 277(5328), pp. 946–949. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.277.5328.946.
Gascoigne, J. and Lipcius, R. (2004) 'Allee effects in marine systems', Marine Ecology Progress Series, 269, pp. 49–59. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps269049.
Y. Cherel et al. (2008) 'Resource partitioning within a tropical seabird community: new information from stable isotopes', Marine Ecology Progress Series, 366, pp. 281–291. Available at: https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v366/p281-291/.
Bruno, J.F. et al. (2006) 'Partitioning the effects of algal species identity and richness on benthic marine primary production', Oikos, 115(1), pp. 170–178. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2006.0030-1299.14927.x.
Kaiser, M.J. (2020b) Marine ecology: processes, systems, and impacts. Third edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/611171.
Garrison, L. and Link, J. (2000) 'Dietary guild structure of the fish community in the Northeast United States continental shelf ecosystem', Marine Ecology Progress Series, 202, pp. 231–240. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps202231.
Friedlaender, A.S., Lawson, G.L. and Halpin, P.N. (2009) 'Evidence of resource partitioning between humpback and minke whales around the western Antarctic Peninsula', Marine Mammal Science, 25(2), pp. 402–415. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-7692.2008.00263.x.
Block, B.A. et al. (2011) 'Tracking apex marine predator movements in a dynamic ocean', Nature, 475(7354), pp. 86–90. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1038/nature10082.
Sala, E. and Knowlton, N. (2006) 'Global Marine Biodiversity Trends', Annual Review of Environment and Resources, 31(1), pp. 93–122. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.energy.31.020105.100235.
Bruno, J.F. and O'Connor, M.I. (2005) 'Cascading effects of predator diversity and omnivory in a marine food web', Ecology Letters, 8(10), pp. 1048–1056. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2005.00808.x.
R. T. Paine (1974) 'Intertidal community structure: Experimental studies on the relationship between a dominant competitor and its principal predator', Oecologia, 15(2), pp. 93–120. Available at: https://www.jstor.org/stable/4214949?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents.
Estes, J.A. (1998) 'Killer Whale Predation on Sea Otters Linking Oceanic and Nearshore Ecosystems', Science, 282(5388), pp. 473–476. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.282.5388.473.
Michele Casini et al. (2008) 'Multi-level trophic cascades in a heavily exploited open marine ecosystem', Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 275(1644), pp. 1793–1801. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2587786/.
Griffin, J.N. and Silliman, B.R. (2011) 'Predator diversity stabilizes and strengthens trophic control of a keystone grazer', Biology Letters, 7(1), pp. 79–82. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2010.0626.
Ward, J.R. and Lafferty, K.D. (2004) 'The Elusive Baseline of Marine Disease: Are Diseases in Ocean Ecosystems Increasing?', PLoS Biology, 2(4). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.0020120.
Bourne, D.G. et al. (2009) 'Microbial disease and the coral holobiont', Trends in Microbiology, 17(12), pp. 554–562. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tim.2009.09.004.

The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam	Description	Deadline	Coursework weighting
Coursework	Prac 1 - SPF Results	08/11/2024	100%
Exam	Main exam: In-Person, Open Book (Restricted), 120 minutes during Summer (Main Period)
Exam	Reassessment Main exam: In-Person, Open Book (Restricted), 120 minutes during September (Reassessment Period)

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

Coursework	Exam
50%	50%

Reassessment

Coursework	Exam
50%	50%

Module supervisor and teaching staff

Supervisor: Dr Michael Steinke, email: msteinke@essex.ac.uk.

Teaching staff: Dr Michael Steinke and Dr Chris Mackin

Contact details: School Undergraduate Office, email: bsugoffice (Non essex users should add @essex.ac.uk to create the full email address)

Availability

Available to incoming Essex Abroad / Exchange students: Yes

Available to Outside Option: No

Available to Audit: No

External examiner

No external examiner information available for this module.

Resources

Teaching materials: Available via Moodle

Lecture recording: Of 34 hours, 8 (23.5%) hours available to students:
26 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.

Further information

Department website: Life Sciences (School of)

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The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.

Module Directory

BS251-5-AU-CO:Marine Biodiversity