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Blue Planet-Intro to Marine Environments (EVSC20004)
Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
Overview
| Availability | Semester 1 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
This subject will introduce students to the interrelationships among marine organisms and the ocean they live in and how these interactions are changing as a consequence of human activities. Topics covered include: ocean circulation, productivity and the impacts of climate change; coastal upwelling, food web dynamics and the impacts of fishing; coastal currents, species ranges and the effects of introduced marine pests; and land-sea connections, nutrient cycling and toxic algal blooms. How to study the interactions between the ocean and its flora and fauna will be investigated through a compulsory weekend field excursion on either Saturday 30th or Sunday 31st of March to Thirteenth Beach, Barwon Heads.
Intended learning outcomes
The objectives of this subject are to:
- introduce the sciences of marine biology and oceanography,
- demonstrate how various elements of the living marine environment interrelate and are part of the complex system we know as the world’s oceans,
- increase awareness of human impacts on the marine environment, and
- provide basic tools for understanding and studying the marine environment.
Generic skills
The subject builds upon generic skills developed in first year level subjects, including the ability to approach and assimilate new knowledge and an ability to use that knowledge to evaluate theories and communicate ideas. Students should also develop skills in field sampling techniques and to apply these skills to investigate marine environmental issues.
Last updated: 20 November 2024