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MARINE ECOLOGY BEN304

Duration (approx) 100 hours
Qualification
Statement of Attainment

 

Dive into the world of Marine Ecology

Delve into the fascinating realm of marine ecology.

 

Marine ecology is concerned with the relationships between marine organisms and their environments. It considers marine ecosystems and their physical, chemical and biological components. 

Learn about marine life and environments from coasts and reefs to open seas and ocean depths.

Study this course to:

  • Explore shorelines, estuaries, the open seas and their depths. 
  • Learn about how the living and non-living components of these environments relate to each other.
  • Gain insight to better manage marine environments.
  • Develop skills to promote sustainability & marine life longevity for future generations. 

This is an experiential learning-based course. Throughout your studies you will have the opportunity to network with and learn from a variety of industry professionals. Establishing real-world relationships and confidence is key to career success.

 

It's easy to enrol...

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Understand and manage marine environments.

Discover how marine systems function & learn skills to help protect them.

 

COURSE CONTENT AND STRUCTURE

Duration: 100 hours of self-paced study.

This course has 10 lessons:

 1. Scope and Nature of Marine Ecology 

  • Introduction
  • Different Marine Ecosystems
  • Coral Reefs
  • Types of Coral Reef - fringing reefs, atolls, barrier reefs
  • Purpose of a Coral Reef
  • Rocky Shore
  • Kelp Forest
  • Seagrass meadow
  • Mangrove
  • Estuary
  • Salt Marsh
  • Tundras
  • Open Ocean
  • Deep Ocean

2. Biodiversity of Marine Environments

  • Measuring Biodiversity
  • Why Biodiversity Matters - species richness, genetic diversity
  • Marine Protists and Plant Life
  • Bony Fish
  • Sharks and Rays
  • Whales
  • Microscopic Invertebrates
  • Worms and Worm Like Animals
  • Corals and their Relatives
  • Molluscs and Echinoderms
  • Microbe - bacteria, fungi, marine viruses
  • Microbial Loop
  • Carbon Cycling and Dissolved Organic Carbon
  • Biodiversity in a Reef
  • Food Webs
  • Declining Biodiversity

3. Environmental Factors of Marine Environments

  • Introduction
  • Types of Water - sea, fresh, brackish
  • Oceanography
  • Oceanic circulation
  • Longitudinal Circulation
  • Southern Oscillation (El Nino, La Nina Effect)
  • Ocean Gyres
  • Ocean Zones
  • Pelagic Zone
  • Abiotic Factors - light, temperature, salinity, density, dissolved gases
  • Climate

4. Climate Change & Other Anthropogenic Pressures

  • How humans create Biodiversity Threats
  • Agricultural Runoff (into estuaries)
  • Fresh water Pollutants - sediments, agricultural chemicals, other
  • Salinity Changes
  • Oil Spills
  • Disturbed Food Chains
  • Overfishing
  • Climate Change
  • Ocean Warming and Sea Levels
  • Ocean Acidification
  • Testing pH
  • Coral Bleaching

5. Restoration of Natural Marine Ecosystems

  • Microplastics
  • Ecotoxicology
  • Eutrophication
  • Erosion
  • Flood Prevention
  • Restoring Coral Reefs
  • Coral Reef Threats- agricultural runoff, seaweed/kelp, sand, sunscreen, climate change, predators.
  • Restoration through Coral Transplantation
  • Restoration through Micro fragmentation
  • Coral Nurseries
  • Planting out Corals and Substrates
  • Regeneration using Natural Reed Beds to Purify Waste Water

6. Managing Threatened Species (Practical and Regulatory Approaches) 

  • Introduction to Invasive Species
  • Managing Invasive Species
  • Population Surveys and Monitoring
  • Census of Marine Life
  • Managing a Threatened Species via Conservation Practices
  • Conservation of Threatened Species
  • Where to Start
  • Conservation of Habitat
  • Ecological Gap Analysis
  • Reference Sites
  • Breeding Programs
  • Keystone Species
  • Predators
  • Ecosystem Engineers
  • Mutualists
  • Intervention Types - Regulation
  • Case Study 

7. Managing Fisheries in Marine Ecosystems 

  • Introduction
  • Case Study - Overfishing Orange Roughy
  • Stock Identity
  • Stock Assessment
  • Stock Biomass
  • Stock Management Methods
  • General Techniques for Managing Fisheries - habitat restoration/closure, seasonal closure, closed waters, protected Statius, Limits, Catch Quotas, Fishing
  • methods. Licences/Permits, Education Programs, Aquaculture
  • Responding to human Food Needs
  • Aquaculture/ Mariculture
  • Extensive Production Mariculture
  • Intensive Production Mariculture
  • Classification of Systems
  • Disease Management for Fisheries

8. Marine Resources and Sustainability 

  • What is a Marine Protected Area
  • How are MPA's Used
  • The AICHI Biodiversity Targets
  • Marine Protected Area Agency Partnership
  • International Guidelines for Designating and Managing MPA's
  • Designating an MPA
  • Field Work
  • Analysis of Existing Resources
  • Conservation and Monitoring of MPAs
  • Working Outside Marine Protected Areas
  • Sustainable Development
  • Preserving Environments
  • Pollution Prevention

9. Technology 

  • Introduction
  • Platforms in Oceanography
  • Ocean Robots and ROV's
  • Satellites 
  • Biodiversity
  • Other Devices
  • Digital Photography
  • High Tech Tagging
  • Biotech - DNA Barcoding and Phylogenetic Analysis
  • Microarray 
  • SNP array
  • Removal of Ocean Debris and Human Waste
  • Broad Considerations in Marine Research

10. Data in Marine Management

  • Introduction 
  • Ethics in Data
  • Principles of Measurement
  • Variables
  • Measurement Scales
  • Measurement Error
  • Bias and Consistency
  • Making Observations
  • Developing skills in observation
  • Samples and Sampling
  • Choosing a basic method of sampling
  • Using Statistics to Analyse Probability
  • Probability Parameters
  • P-Values
  • Statistics show Relationship
  • Knowing what to Ask about Data - Question types


WHY DO WE NEED TO MANAGE MARINE ENVIRONMENTS?

Marine environments may have largely looked after themselves for millennia, but the activities of man have increasingly threatened their stability and sustainability.

Significant man made risks to marine environments include:

  • Agricultural runoff 
  • Oil spills
  • Salinity changes
  • Overpopulation (as seen in fish farming)
  • Overfishing, overexploitation, and bycatch
  • Increase in invasive species
  • Climate change
  • Pollution 
 

Why Study with ACS?

Design your own learning pathway.

Study at your own pace, from anywhere, at any time. 

Receive prompt, expert support from our team of committed and friendly tutors.

Your learning is our priority. We are flexible and adaptable to meet your educational needs!

 

Enrolling is easy - just go to the top of this page and select your study method and payment option.

If you have any questions about studying with ACS, or want to know more about any of our courses, get in touch with our specialist tutors today. They will be happy to answer your questions and look at different study options to fit in with your goals.

 
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