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Unit of Study GLY00232 - Coastal Biogeochemistry (2017)

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Unit Snapshot

  • Enrolment information

    This unit is offered Online as a 3 week intensive course. This includes a 6 day compulsory residential that will be held on the Lismore campus. Please refer to http://scu.edu.au/timetables for further information on timetables.

Unit description

Introduces students to (1) the biogeochemical processes that operate in coastal systems, (2) the procedures for planning and conducting environmental sampling and monitoring programs for monitoring ecosystem processes, (3) modern wet chemical and instrumental analytical techniques that are part of environmental sampling and monitoring programs and (4) the techniques to analyse synthesise, and interpret a biogeochemical data set and produce a technical report with a plain English summary.

Unit content

Topic 1: Material loadings to coastal ecosystems
Topic 2: Estuarine hydrography, mixing, and residence times
Topic 3: Phytoplankton and primary productivity
Topic 4: Sediment biogeochemistry
Topic 5: Biogeochemical cycles in coastal waters
Topic 6: Greenhouse gas sources and sinks
Topic 7: Climate change and ocean acidification
Topic 8: Human impacts on biogeochemical cycles
Topic 9: Stable isotopes and biomarkers as tracers of biogeochemical processes
Topic 10: Measuring biogeochemical processes

Availabilities

Location Domestic International
Online Session 3 N/A

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 Describe how physical, geological, chemical and biological processes (biogeochemistry) interact to control the fate and effect of material on the metabolism of coastal ecosystems
2 Demonstrate techniques to measure biogeochemical processes in coastal ecosystems
3 Demonstrate standard sample collection, handling, preservation and storage procedures for sediment, water, and biological samples
4 Identify a range of modern analytical instrumentation and be able to describe the advantages, limitations and uses of various techniques
5 Demonstrate an ability to collect, analyse, synthesise, and interpret a data set on biogeochemical processes and produce a technical report with a plain English summary

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

  1. Describe how physical, geological, chemical and biological processes (biogeochemistry) interact to control the fate and effect of material on the metabolism of coastal ecosystems
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
  2. Demonstrate techniques to measure biogeochemical processes in coastal ecosystems
    • GA4:
  3. Demonstrate standard sample collection, handling, preservation and storage procedures for sediment, water, and biological samples
    • GA4:
  4. Identify a range of modern analytical instrumentation and be able to describe the advantages, limitations and uses of various techniques
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
  5. Demonstrate an ability to collect, analyse, synthesise, and interpret a data set on biogeochemical processes and produce a technical report with a plain English summary
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
    • GA5:

Prescribed learning resources

Prescribed Texts
  • No prescribed texts.

Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods.