BS254-5-AU-CO:
Marine Vertebrates
2024/25
Life Sciences (School of)
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Undergraduate: Level 5
Current
Thursday 03 October 2024
Friday 13 December 2024
15
08 March 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 will introduce you to the main marine vertebrates. Specifically the module will describe major taxonomic divisions and the evolutionary relationships between different taxa.
Much attention will be given to the fundamental biology, ecology and conservation of the main groups focusing heavily on marine cetacea (whales and dolphins). As well as the cetacea, other key groups examined during this module include marine Teleosts, Elasmobranchs, Sirenia, Carnivora , Marine turtles and Sea snakes. The module will include a field practical examining fish utilisation of salt marsh habitats. The module will conclude by examining the key threats to sleeted aquatic vertebrates and key conservation mechanisms and initiatives.
The aims of this module are:
- To provide an understanding of the importance of marine vertebrates to aquatic systems.
- To provide knowledge of the taxonomy, physiology, ecology and conservation of the main aquatic vertebrates groups.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Describe the taxonomic diversity, biology and ecology of aquatic vertebrates.
- Demonstrate an understanding of factors adversely affecting aquatic vertebrate diversity and population sizes.
- Discuss the environmental and economic value of aquatic vertebrates and to know conservation strategies.
- Explain functional and physiological aspects of fishes including buoyancy, osmoregulation and excretion, respiration and circulation, defence, immunity and fish vaccination.
- Understand the importance of salt marsh as a resource for fish communities.
- Demonstrate competence in data presentation, analysis and interpretation, numeracy, information retrieval and written communication.
- Show competence in gathering scientific information, particularly from the web, in reading and analysis of simple scientific reviews and data within them, and in communication skill.
Marine mammals are very well adapted to an aquatic existence and are important components of aquatic food webs; they are often top predators and/or keystone species. They have huge conservation, environmental and economic value, that cannot be underestimated when considering the importance of this group of animals to aquatic systems in general.
This module will be delivered via:
- One 1-hour lecture per week.
- Two 2-hour practicals or equivalent
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Reynolds, J.E. and Rommel, S.A. (1999)
Biology of marine mammals. Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press. Available at:
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=5337833.
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Bone, Q. and Moore, R.H. (2008)
Biology of fishes. 3rd ed. New York, NY: Taylor & Francis Group. Available at:
https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=232678.
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Barneche, D.R.
et al. (2018) ‘Fish reproductive-energy output increases disproportionately with body size’,
Science, 360(6389), pp. 642–645. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aao6868.
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Smith, C. and Wootton, R.J. (2016) ‘The remarkable reproductive diversity of teleost fishes’,
Fish and Fisheries, 17(4), pp. 1208–1215. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1111/faf.12116.
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Laegdsgaard, P. and Johnson, C. (2001) ‘Why do juvenile fish utilise mangrove habitats?’,
Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 257(2), pp. 229–253. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-0981(00)00331-2.
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 |
Essay |
01/11/2024 |
100% |
| Exam |
Main exam: In-Person, Open Book (Restricted), 120 minutes during January
|
| 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
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Michelle Taylor, email: michelle.taylor@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Michelle Taylor, Dr Anna Sturrock, Dr Leanne Hepburn, Dr Chris Mackin
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 14 hours, 14 (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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