BL5311 Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 11

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

This module is only for students enrolled in the MSc Marine Ecosystem Management.

Planned timetable

Lectures Monday - Tuesday and Thursday - Friday at 9am. Practical class days Tuesday and Wednesday 11am or 1pm

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr L Boehme

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr Lars Boehme and Dr Miguel Borges Da Costa Guint Barbosa

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module provides students with an up to date understanding of topics related to marine biodiversity, including its importance in the functioning of marine ecosystems and techniques used to measure it. We examine key components and complexity of marine systems in the context of the biodiversity and ecosystem function (BEF) debate. We also explore the resilience of marine systems and the impacts of key stressors on BEF such as harvest, invasive species, pollutants and climate change. Students will learn methods and techniques required to explore data in the context of BEF. This will provide students with a modern overview of the dynamic interactions between biodiversity and ecosystem processes and the threats to them. The module consists of a series of lectures, student-led seminars and practical activities, including local field work for data collection and analysis.

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

Coursework = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

3 lectures (x5 weeks), 1 seminar (x6 weeks), 1 tutorial (x5 weeks), 1 practical class (x5 weeks), field work

Scheduled learning hours

44

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

100

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • understand marine biodiversity in the context of ecosystem function.
  • understand the relationships between and responses of biodiversity and ecosystem function to environmental conditions.
  • understand and experience collecting data to investigate biodiversity-ecosystem function relationships.
  • analyse data to understand biodiversity-ecosystem function relationships.
  • appreciate the importance of predicting and safeguarding marine biodiversity futures.