Postgraduate Course: The Marine Environment (BIME11020)
Course Outline
| School | Deanery of Biomedical Sciences |
College | College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | The marine environment encompasses a vast array of unique ecosystems, extending from coastal regions to deep oceans and includes some of the most threatened habitats, particularly the world's coral reefs. Man's link with the marine environment is historically very strong and this course will investigate the resulting threats to its sustainability with increasing human demands. In particular, the issues of nonsustainable fishing, pollution, translocation of invasive non-native species and the possible effects of climate change. |
| Course description |
There is increasing interest in marine health as we rely more and more on its goods and services to support an ever-growing population. This is only possible with a full appreciation of marine biodiversity, ecosystem function and the potential consequences of continued human pressures. This course explores whether we can use similar strategies as on land to better manage and govern the marine environment.
This course introduces some general marine ecosystem contexts from coastal environments to deep sea ecology before looking at people¿s relationship with marine environments and the sea as an industry base and source of food. The effects of pollution are explored, with a particular emphasis on noise, and we finish with an investigation of the relationship between oceans and climate change.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2017/18, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Full Year |
| Course Start Date |
18/09/2017 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 10,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10,
Online Activities 25,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
53 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Formal summative written assessment will constitute 60% of the student's grade. Online assessment will incorporate a variety of activities will constitute 40% of their overall course grade and is taken to represent a formative assessment of learning throughout the programme. |
| Feedback |
Summative assessment consists of a written element, worth 60% of the total mark, and an online element worth 40%. In both cases, comprehensive written feedback is provided individually with 15 working days of the assessment deadline. Students are expected to reflect on their feedback, to seek additional clarification if appropriate, and to use this to improve on future assignments of a similar nature. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Understand the historical context to man's links with the marine environment.
- Demonstrate increased awareness of the many threats to marine species and ecosystems around the world, in particular the multiple likely impacts of ongoing climate change.
- Understand the protection and management strategies currently employed to safeguard the future of marine species and ecosystems.
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Reading List
| Crain, Halpern, Beck et al. (2009). Understanding and managing human threats to the coastal marine environment. The Year in Ecology and Conservation Biology. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci 1162; 39-62. |
Additional Information
| Course URL |
http://www.web.mvm.ed.ac.uk/ |
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
This course encourages the effective sourcing and use of evidence in presenting case material and/or developing credible position statements. |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Sharron Ogle
Tel:
Email: |
Course secretary | Mr Lyndon Zahra
Tel: (0131) 651 5232
Email: |
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