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  3. Blue Planet - Intro to Marine Biology

Blue Planet - Intro to Marine Biology (EVSC20004)

Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

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Semester 1
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This subject will introduce students to the diversity of life that we collectively call marine biology with a focus on the connections between marine organisms and the ocean in which they live. Students will learn about rocky shores, estuaries, reefs, the Southern Ocean and how these are changing because of human activities. Field trips to a local intertidal rocky shore will provide students with an opportunity to collect their own data and use this to answer biological questions. Workshops will connect field-based activities with the practical skills required to write a scientific report. Upon subject completion, students will have a clear understanding of the breadth of marine biology disciplines and will have developed fundamental scientific skills and knowledge that can be applied in other subjects. 

Intended learning outcomes

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

  • Describe the relationship between marine organisms and the habitats in which they live.
  • Identify human activities and understand how they impact the marine environment.
  • Conduct field-based activities that answer a specific biological question.
  • Analyse data using basic statistical methods.
  • Communicate scientific results and biological information in different formats (written, oral, visual).

Generic skills

At the completion of this subject, students should gain skills in:

  • Practical field-based activities.
  • Working in small groups and coordinating roles to achieve group tasks.
  • Appling knowledge to answer new biological questions.
  • Basic statistical methods.
  • Concise scientific writing.

Last updated: 20 November 2024