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Unit of Study BIO00232 - Coastal Marine Ecosystems (2020)

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Unit Snapshot

  • Enrolment information

    Students require a sound knowledge of basic biological processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, evolution and animal diversity and ecological principles such as trophic relationships, competition and environmental carrying capacity, and the ability to interpret chemical reaction equations, understand pH, and oxidation/reduction reactions. Students also need the technical skills to produce reports, use taxonomic keys, conduct basic statistical tests and complete on-line tasks. These skills are obtained by completing the pre-requisite units or equivalent experience. On-campus students may be based at Lismore or the National Marine Science Centre (NMSC). NMSC students will need to attend an overnight trip to complete some of the field exercises. There will be a 4-day compulsory residential for Online students that will be held on the Lismore campus. Please refer to https://www.scu.edu.au/timetables for further information on timetables.

Unit description

Introduces students to the major types of coastal marine habitat, from estuaries, intertidal shores, rocky and coral reefs, to show their basic structure and the processes that maintain them as recognisable entities. In addition, this unit builds on the basic knowledge acquired in the Biology and Ecology units of the first year to survey the major groups of marine animals and plants and show their roles in the maintenance of marine habitats. The practical work includes field trips to mangroves, seagrass, rocky shore and sediment habitats. It includes boat work to sample plankton and benthos.

Unit content

The following topics will be covered by the study guide, textbook and Internet readings and lectures and are assessed by two online quizzes and a final exam:
Global ocean systems and Australian marine biogeography
Estuarine habitats including seagrasses, mangroves and saltmarshes
The pelagic environment: plankton, fish and other nekton
Sedimentary habitats
Rocky habitats
Coral reefs

The following marine taxonomy topics are for self-directed study and are covered by the Practical Handbook, supported by recommended reference books and on-line resources. They will be assessed in the online quizzes and final exam and reinforced by field exercises: - polychaetes and other worms - molluscs - crustaceans - echinoderms - cnidarians and ctenophores - sessile phyla: sponges, ascidians and bryozoans - marine Plants: macroalgae, mangroves, saltmarshes and seagrasses. All students will be expected to contribute to a group seminar presentation on a marine species of concern to Australian marine resource managers. Field trips include collection of plankton, a tour of estuarine habitats, sampling of intertidal and subtidal benthos and quantifying open coast rocky shore zonation patterns.

Availabilities

Location Domestic International
Lismore
Session1
Session1
National Marine Science Centre Coffs Harbour
Session1
Session1
Online
Session1
Session1

Learning outcomes and graduate attributes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

GA1: Intellectual rigour, GA2: Creativity, GA3: Ethical practice, GA4: Knowledge of a discipline, GA5: Lifelong learning, GA6: Communication and social skills, GA7: Cultural competence
Learning outcome count Learning outcome description GA1 GA2 GA3 GA4 GA5 GA6 GA7
1 identify the major taxa of marine organisms and recognise local examples
2 demonstrate an understanding of the basic organisation and function of the major coastal marine habitats and communities and relate this to issues in marine resource management
3 plan and conduct sampling programs of marine organisms in a variety of habitats and to present their findings in a variety of formats.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. identify the major taxa of marine organisms and recognise local examples
    • GA4:
    • GA5:
  2. demonstrate an understanding of the basic organisation and function of the major coastal marine habitats and communities and relate this to issues in marine resource management
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
    • GA5:
  3. plan and conduct sampling programs of marine organisms in a variety of habitats and to present their findings in a variety of formats.
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
    • GA5:

Prescribed learning resources

Prescribed Texts
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Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods.