BS706-7-AU-CO:
Tropical Marine Systems
2023/24
Life Sciences (School of)
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Thursday 05 October 2023
Friday 15 December 2023
15
16 August 2023
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
BS710, BS711
MSC C16112 Tropical Marine Biology,
MSC F71012 Marine Science and Sustainable Development,
MPHDC16148 Tropical Marine Biology,
MPHDC16184 Tropical Marine Biology,
PHD C16148 Tropical Marine Biology,
PHD C16184 Tropical Marine Biology,
MSCIB097 Tropical Marine Biology,
MSCIBA97 Tropical Marine Biology (Including Placement Year),
MSCIBB97 Tropical Marine Biology (Including Year Abroad)
This module will cover the four main tropical habitats coral reefs, tropical oceans, seagrass beds, and mangrove systems.
Each section is illustrated with suitable case studies and considers long-term monitoring data that highlights the historical and more recent changes in the taxonomic composition and productivity of these systems.
The aim of this module is:
- To provide a thorough grounding in tropical marine systems, including the diversity of organisms that exist and the roles they play as well as the fundamental biological processes that enable these organisms to thrive.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Describe the taxonomic and functional diversity of tropical marine organisms.
- Discuss the effects of physiochemical characteristics and processes on the distribution, abundance and productivity of tropical marine organisms.
- Discuss the role of tropical marine systems in biogeochemical cycles.
- Analyse the effect of historical and recent global change on biological processes.
- Discuss the impact of invasive species on the composition and functioning of tropical marine ecosystems.
- Explain the role of symbiotic relationships within tropical marine food webs.
- Show competence in retrieving relevant information from diverse sources and interpreting scientific data.
Skills for your Professional Life (Transferable Skills)
By the end of this module, students will be expected to have developed the following transferable skills:
- Demonstrate competence in written communication and information retrieval.
- Identify, interpret and synthesise important information from scientific papers.
- Formulate a valid scientific opinion and openly discuss this opinion within a formal and informal setting.
This module aims to widen the understanding of some of the key functional roles of photosynthetic producers (corals, algae, cyanobacteria, plants) and heterotrophic consumers (planktonic, benthic and pelagic invertebrates and vertebrates).
The module will assist with developing the skills necessary to evaluate ecological and biogeochemical processes within tropical marine systems and their productivity, connectivity and resilience.
The module will also provide some of the knowledge needed to assess the environmental implications of impacts and stresses at different spatial and temporal scales. Key skills of accessing and interpreting scientific publications will be developed throughout the module to aid the development of individual scientific opinion and thereby facilitate formal and informal scientific discussion within classes.
This module will be delivered via:
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Moodle Quiz 1 - Deadline Only - Do Not Submit On FASER |
|
10% |
| Coursework |
Scientific Paper Review |
|
40% |
| Coursework |
Moodle Quiz 2 - Deadline Only - Do Not Submit On FASER |
|
10% |
| Coursework |
Research Review |
|
40% |
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
Prof David Smith, email: djsmitc@essex.ac.uk.
Prof David Smith, Dr Gerrit Nanninga and Dr Michael Steinke
School Graduate Office, email: bsgradtaught (Non essex users should add @essex.ac.uk to create a full email address)
Yes
No
No
Dr Sebastian Hennige
Available via Moodle
Of 20 hours, 20 (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.
Disclaimer: The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its Module Directory is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can
be necessary to make changes, for example to programmes, modules, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include a change of law or regulatory requirements,
industrial action, lack of demand, departure of key personnel, change in government policy, or withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to modules may for example consist
of variations to the content and method of delivery or assessment of modules and other services, to discontinue modules and other services and to merge or combine modules.
The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications and module directory.
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.