Course Overview

Several contrasting marine ecosystems are described and analysed
through the main structuring strengths of pelagic and benthic
communities. This module is part of the interdisciplinary first
semester and also aims to demonstrate through concrete examples that
marine biology is part of oceanography.

A practical course takes place at the marine station (Arcachon) where
students spent 2.5 days in order to apply the main theoretical
concepts taught during lectures (adaptation to marine life, link
between spatial heterogeneity and diversity, diversity calculation,
use of gears like dredges, planktonic nets, etc.).

Learning Achievement

Competence

Course prerequisites

- Correct written and oral competences in English.
- Knowledge of basic software (e.g. word, Excel).
- Statistical knowledge which will be improved in a concomitant
module of data analysis.

Grading Philosophy

> First Session:

- 2 reports (Plankton and Seagrass) written after the field course at
the marine station (50% of overall mark).
- 1 written exam of 1.5 h (50% of the overall mark).

> Second Session:

- Marks of the two reports are retained (50%).
- 1 written exam of 1.5 h OR an oral exam (50% of the overall mark).

The studenst needs a mark of 100/200 to validate this module.

Course schedule

> Lectures  (31 hours) concern theoretical aspects of biological
oceanography that must be known and understood by students from a
large disciplinary panel. The main idea is to analyse ecosystems with
contrasted structuring strengths: spatial heterogeneity in seagrass,
high pressure and no light in deep-sea fans, turbidity in estuaries,
etc.
> Field courses (20 hours):

- 8 hours concerning plankton  ecology,
- 8 hours concerning seagrass ecology,
- 4 hours concerning coastal fishes.

Course type

- 51 hours face-to-face teaching and 110h self-study. - 51 hours corresponds to 31 hours of lectures and 20 hours of field course at the Marine Station (2.5 days at Arcachon). - 110 hours consists of 60 hours writing two reports (50% of final mark). - 50 hours preparing written exams (50% of final mark).

Online Course Requirement

Instructor

Other information

Duration: 8/9 weeks

Language of instruction: English
Mode of delivery: Face-to-face teaching; Field work; Lab practicals; Self-study

Site for Inquiry