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National Marine Science Centre Coffs Harbour Session 3 Session 3

Unit Summary

Unit type

UG Coursework Unit

Credit points

12

AQF level

7

Level of learning

Intermediate

Former School/College

Former School of Environment, Science and Engineering

Pre-requisites

CHE00201 - Chemistry

Anti-requisites

BIO01203 Marine Biology

Unit aim

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 characteristics and residence times
Topic 3: Phytoplankton and primary productivity
Topic 4: Biogeochemical cycles
Topic 5: Sediment biogeochemistry
Topic 6: Climate change and ocean acidification
Topic 7: Measuring biogeochemical processes
Topic 8: Human impacts on biogeochemical cycles
Topic 9: Stable isotopes and biomarkers
Topic 10: Case studies in coastal biogeochemistry
Topic 11: Standard sample collection, handling, preservation and storage procedures for sediment, water, and biological samples
Topic 12: Modern analytical methods including FIA, MIMS, EA-IRMS, GC-IRMS

Learning outcomes

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.

GA1: , GA2: , GA3: , GA4: , GA5: , GA6: , GA7:
On completion of this unit, students should be able to: 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 texts

  • No prescribed texts.
Prescribed texts may change in future teaching periods.