Undergraduate Course: Marine Systems and Policies (UG) (EASC10083)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 10 |
| Home subject area | Earth Science |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | Marine (coastal and ocean) environments are fundamental features of the Earth system and profoundly influenced by human interactions. These ecosystems are inherently transboundary and multi-dimensional, so the mosaic of policy instruments governing the utilization of coastal ocean systems is complex. Policies, laws and regulations are often disconnected to the scale and dynamics of targeted ecosystems and species in both time and space, e.g. oceanographic processes, migratory species, and multi-site life stages and transboundary dynamics. Many global to local scale policies when viewed through an ¿ecosystem lens¿, have the potential to be more effective. Not only to support richer understanding of ecosystem processes, but also to consider cumulative impacts of social pressures and environmental change, from the past and looking ahead.
This course will explore linkages between different scales of coastal-ocean ecosystem processes and ecological dynamics in connection with applicable scales of policy instruments. E.g. Law of the Sea for seabed and oceanic properties; Convention of Biodiversity for habitats and species; UNESCO World Heritage for trans-boundary and multi-site contexts. Regional conventions map well to regional scales of semi-enclosed seas, continental margins, e.g. OSPAR, Bucharest Convention. Local codes and policies are often framed around permitted-activities and zoning, e.g. fishing regulations, coastal zoning.
As technology advances, human population increases and energy demands combine to extend the horizons of marine exploration and exploitation further offshore, an more robust understanding of policy impacts and ecology responses in coastal-ocean realms is increasingly vital at all scales of marine systems. Many of UoE¿s undergraduates in GeoSciences will seek positions in governments, NGOs, environmental consultancy, and private enterprise. This requires competency at the science-policy interface, and for courses to enable critical analysis of marine environments and social interactions. In GeoSciences the environmental science-to-policy niche is covered to a limited degree in various PGT degree streams, but in both the UG and PGT level, most of the courses are terrestrial in orientation.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Delivery period: 2013/14 Semester 2, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Learn enabled: Yes |
Quota: 23 |
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Web Timetable |
Web Timetable |
| Course Start Date |
13/01/2014 |
| Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Please contact the School directly for a breakdown of Learning and Teaching Activities |
| Additional Notes |
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| Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) |
Please contact the School directly for a breakdown of Assessment Methods
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| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Ecosystem Learning Outcomes:
1. coastal-marine ecosystem processes, inter-dynamics and scales (e.g. global ocean, islands, continental margins, sub-intertidal);
2. human dimensions and drivers of environmental change in the marine environment (climate change, energy, fishing, species changes, urbanization);
3. pathways and scenarios for recovery, e.g. habitat conservation, restoration, enhancement, creation.
2. Policy Learning Outcomes:
4. key global and regional coastal ocean policy applications (CCFC, CBD, World Heritage, Ramsar, LOS, FAO, OSPAR, Barcelona);
5. key species and habitat policies (Habitats Directive, Endangered Species Act);
6. Exemplars of local governance, permitting, community management and traditional knowledge governance.
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Assessment Information
| Lecture/tutorial participation 10%, Group presentation 25%, Lecture-Literature Test 30%, Symposia Abstract 5%, 2000 word Policy Position Paper 30% |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
This course will explore the linkages between different scales of coastal ocean ecosystem processes and ecological dynamics in connection with applicable scales of marine environmental policy instruments. |
| Syllabus |
The first part of the course examines diverse exemplary case studies illustrating a range of biomes, scales, issues through which suitability of different policies will be examined and tested. Building on these examples, students will conduct their own case-based ¿policy suitability and solution analysis¿ though small group presentations and an individual essay.
Week 1. Course overview, goals and organization. Introduction to different realms of coastal-ocean ecosystems in the context of science, policy and management linkages, noting distinctions from terrestrial systems.
Week 2. Archipelagos, Atolls and Islands: Coral reefs and island habitats, World Heritage on island biogeography, ecology and cultures, connectivity across similar sites; sea level rise; habitat loss; cultural values, formal and traditional governance) (Micronesia, Polynesia)
Week 3. Estuaries and Semi-enclosed Seas : Deltas, wetlands, shallow seas; Regional Seas policies on transboundary issues pollution, fisheries, land to sea based impacts. (e.g. NE Atlantic ¿ OSPAR, Red Sea - Jeddah Conv., Black Sea-Bucharest Convention, Mediterranean Sea ¿ Barcelona Convention.
Week 4. Continental Margins and Shelves : Offshore features, upwelling, seabed, seamounts, reefs; Policies targeting a balance of extractive activities with biodiversity conservation, e.g. fisheries, infrastructure, renewable, offshore exploration. (e.g. California, Scotland, Australia)
Week 5. Urbanizing Shorelines: changes to intertidal-subtidal habitats over time in post industrial cities, ongoing incremental urbanization and new cities; Look at local codes, zoning, changes to shorelines, sea level rise, coastal protection drivers, and restoration vs. hybrid habitats vs. artificial habitats; (Seattle, Edinburgh, Barcelona)
Week 6. Global Oceans (climate change, temperature, acidification, migratory species, circulation; High Seas UNCLOS, global instruments (Climate Change Framework, Biodiversity Convention), (Antarctica, Galapagos)
Week 7. Lectures + Literature Test on weeks 1-6 (UG only)
Case Study Design Tutorial: Instructor meetings to refine group and individual case preparation.
Week 8. Peer Reviewed Group Presentations (potentially case studies by PGT students, peer reviewed by UG)
Week 9. Peer Reviewed Group Presentations (potentially case studies by UG students, peer reviewed by PGT)
Week 10. Abstracts Symposia session sharing overview of individual policy papers.
(Policy Essays due by end of term, date t.b.d. in coordination with Programme DOS.)
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| Transferable skills |
- Capacity to conduct context based policy analysis to develop solutions for different settings and scales;
- Writing brief critiques and reviews of key literature and policies.
- Leadership and participation in group discussions on complex topics, scientific literature and examples;
- Team based oral presentations and participation in an Abstracts Symposia.
- Researching, constructing and delivering individual ¿white paper / position paper¿.
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| Reading list |
Excerpts from:
¿ Nybakken, JW, Marine Biology ¿ An Ecological Approach
¿ Woodruff, CD, Coasts ¿ Form, Processes and Evolution
¿ Pinet, P, Oceanography ¿ An Introduction to the Oceans
¿ IPCC 2007: Working Group II, selected sections on coasts, regions, islands
¿ World Bank, UNEP: Regional Seas, International Waters, Large Marine Ecosystems
¿ EU, UK, NOAA (USA), (Aust) on National < > Local Policies
¿ IUCN on Marine Invasives, Blue Carbon, Marine Protected Areas, High Seas
¿ UNESCO and CBD on World Heritage Marine Properties
Indicative journal articles:
Bulleri, F and Chapman MG, 2010. The introduction of coastal infrastructure as a driver of change in marine environments. Journal of Applied Ecology Vol 47 (26¿35)
Carr, MH et al, 2003. Comparing marine and terrestrial ecosystems: Implications for the design of coastal marine reserves. Ecological Applications, 13 (1) Supplement, 2003 (S90-S107)
Clark, RC et al, 2010. The ecology of seamounts: structure, function and human impacts. Annual Review of Marine Science 2010 2 (253-78)
Crain, CM et al, 2009. Understanding and Managing Human Threats to the Coastal Marine Environment. The Year in Ecology and Conservation Biology 2009: Ann.N.Y.Acad.Sci. 1162 (39-62)
Doney, SC et al, 2011. Climate change impacts on marine ecosystems. Annual Review of Marine Science 2012 4:4 (4.1-4.27)
Hoffman, GE and Gaines SD, 2008. New tools to meet new challenges: emerging technologies for managing marine ecosystems for resilience. Bioscience Jan 2008 Vol 58 No. 1 (43-52)
Hoegh-Guldberg O et al (2011) The future of coral reef. SCIENCE 334: 1494-1495
Jackson, JBC et al 2001. Historical Overfishing and the Recent Collapse of Coastal Ecosystems Science Vol 293 27 July 2001 (630-637)
Jentoft, S and Chuenpagdee, R, 2009. Fisheries and coastal governance as a wicked problem. Marine Policy 33 (2009) 553-560.
Levin, LA and Dayton PK, 2009. Ecological theory and continental margins: where shallow meets deep. Trends in Ecology and Evolution Vol 24 No. 11 (606-617)
Levin, LA and Sibuet, M, 2011. Understanding margin biodiversity: a new imperative. Annual Review of Marine Science 2012 Vol 4 (8.1 ¿ 8.34)
Mills M, et al 2010. A mismatch of scales: challenges in planning for implementation of MPAs in the Coral Triangle. Conservation Letters 3 (2010) 291-303.
Molnar, JL et al, 2008. Assessing the global threat of invasive species to marine biodiversity. Frontiers in Ecology 2008 6 (9) (485-492).
Nicholls, RJ and Cazenave, A, 2010. Sea-level rise and its impact on coastal zones. Science Vol 328 18 June 2010 (1517-1520)
Orr, JC et al, 2005. Anthropogenic ocean acidification over the twenty-first century and its impact on calcifying organisms. Nature Vol 437 29 Sept 2005 (681-686)
Palumbi, SR et al, 2009. Managing for ocean biodiversity to sustain marine ecosystem services. Frontiers in Ecology 2009 7 (4) (204-2011)
Palumbi, SR et al, 2008. Ecosystems in Action: Lessons from Marine Ecology about Recovery, Resistance, and Reversibility . BioScience Jan 2008 Vol 58 No. 1 (33 - 42)
Ramirez-Llodra, E. et al, 2011. Man and the last great wilderness: human impact on the Deep Sea. PLoS ONE July 2011 Vol 6 Issue 7 (1-26)
Scheffer. M et al, 2001. Catastrophic shifts in ecosystems Nature Vol 413, 11 Oct 2001 (591 ¿ 596)
Thrush, SF and Dayton, PK, 2010. What can ecology contribute to ecosystem-based management? Annual Review of Marine Science. 2010. 2:419-41.
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| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Scalar case studies (ecosystem x policy x drivers) through: 6 lectures, 2 case-study design tutorials, 2 group (alternating, peer review) presentations, 1 in-class test, 1 out-of class paper |
| Keywords | Marine, coastal ocean ecosystems; biophysical processes and scales; marine policy and governance; cl |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Meriwether Wilson
Tel: (0131 6)50 4311
Email: |
Course secretary | Ms Katie Galbraith
Tel: (0131 6)50 8510
Email: |
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