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Marine Biodiversity and Biogeography (ECOL30007)
Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
You’re currently viewing the 2024 version of this subject
Overview
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The oceans cover 71% of the earth’s surface and support an incredible diversity of life. This subject provides a comprehensive and contemporary overview of the biodiversity and biogeography of marine animals, plants and micro-organisms. It then explores the role that ecology and evolution play in shaping patterns of abundance, demography, biodiversity, and ecosystem functioning in the marine realm.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- identify common marine organisms to broad taxonomic groups using key diagnostic features and apply this knowledge to understand patterns of biodiversity and biogeography;
- construct an argument (written and verbal) for how ecological and evolutionary processes produce patterns of variation in abundance, distribution, diversity and biogeography within and among marine species;
- critically evaluate methods and study designs used in marine research;
- design an experiment appropriate for a given question in marine biology and interpret data from relevant studies;
- synthesise primary scientific literature to identify key knowledge gaps and opportunities in our understanding of marine biodiversity and ecosystem functioning; and
- effectively communicate key scientific concepts in marine biology and their real-world application in understanding patterns of abundance, demography, biodiversity, and ecosystem functioning in the marine realm through written presentations and class discussion.
Generic skills
On completion of this subject students should have developed the following generic skills:
- the ability to understand current scientific literature, to identify knowledge gaps, and to explain the important concepts to non-scientists;
- the ability to critique methods and study designs used in research;
- the ability to read and synthesize current primary scientific literature and produce concise pieces of scientific writing; and
- the ability to approach and assimilate new knowledge from observation.
Last updated: 8 November 2024