The marine realm covers 70% of the Earth's surface. It contains ice-covered seas and hydrothermal vents, muddy estuaries, deep ocean trenches and the clear blue open sea. The oceans and seas are also integral to the whole earth-ocean-atmosphere system, which controls the climate and conditions for life on Earth. The living, physical and chemical parts of the Earth all interact and influence one another, so that it is impossible to consider one aspect without thinking of the others. This module describes the different marine environments, the organisms that inhabit them and their ecological interactions, and the physical and chemical conditions that determine the diversity of marine life. It also discusses how human activity is influencing marine ecosystems, through overfishing, pollution, and climate change.
Learning Outcomes:
To pass this module students will need to be able to:
1. describe the major types of marine communities, the major types of organisms that inhabit these communities and the roles that these organisms play in the marine environment;
2. demonstrate an understanding of the physical and chemical characteristics and processes
within the marine environment;
3. describe the effects of these physical characteristics and processes on the distribution, abundance and productivity of marine organisms;
4. describe key biogeochemical cycling and their importance in the environment;
5. describe how human activities are affecting the marine environment, both directly and indirectly;
6. demonstrate understanding of key scientific measurement concepts and carry out, analyse and present competently basic aquatic physical, chemical, biological measurements and observations.
- Module Supervisor: Michelle Taylor