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    Overview

    The ecology of marine organisms, their interactions, biotic and abiotic factors that influence patterns and ecological processes in benthic and pelagic environments.

    The seas around New Zealand and its Antarctic territories encompass a great diversity of marine habitats and endemic species, making this one of the most exciting places globally to study Marine Ecology. Marine Ecology is the scientific study of marine habitats, populations and interactions among organisms and the surrounding environment. During this paper you will have an opportunity to investigate the influence of a key functional group on abiotic and biotic factors with a hands-on field manipulation experiment. The field work and laboratory sessions are designed to complement the lectures, which focus on four themes:

    1. Patterns in the marine environment
    2. Processes including primary production, decomposition and secondary production
    3. Fundamental concepts in marine ecology
    4. Management and applied ecology

    Many of these themes overlap in the lectures and associated practical sessions.

    About this paper

    Paper title Marine Ecology and Ecosystems
    Subject Marine Science
    EFTS 0.15
    Points 18 points
    Teaching period Semester 1 (On campus)
    Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) $1,173.30
    International Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website.
    Prerequisite
    One of (BIOL 112, BIOL 123, EAOS 111, ECOL 111, MARI 112, PTWY 132) and 36 200-level points from Science Schedule C
    Recommended Preparation
    MARI 202, ECOL 211, ZOOL 221
    Schedule C
    Science
    Contact

    ceridwen.fraser@otago.ac.nz

    Teaching staff

    Associate Professor Crid Fraser

    Textbooks

    Textbooks are not required for this paper.

    Course outline

    View part one of the course outline for MARI 301

    View part two of the course outline for MARI 301

    Graduate Attributes Emphasised
    Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Environmental literacy, Information literacy, Self-motivation, Teamwork.
    View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.
    Learning Outcomes

    Students who successfully complete this paper will:

    • Learn about key ecological processes and how to measure them
    • Understand and use primary literature as a basis for research
    • Design and carry out a robust experiment: from hypotheses to statistics
    • Become multidisciplinary: using analytical tools and models to measure processes
    • Write a journal article
    • Communicate science to the public
    • Apply ecological information to real management questions

    Timetable

    Semester 1

    Location
    Dunedin
    Teaching method
    This paper is taught On Campus
    Learning management system
    Blackboard

    Fieldwork

    Stream Days Times Weeks
    Attend one stream from
    A1 Monday 14:00-17:50 10-12, 15
    A2 Tuesday 14:00-17:50 10-12, 15

    Lecture

    Stream Days Times Weeks
    Attend
    A1 Monday 12:00-12:50 9-13, 15-22
    Tuesday 10:00-10:50 9-13, 15-22

    Practical

    Stream Days Times Weeks
    Attend one stream from
    A1 Monday 14:00-16:50 13
    Monday 14:00-17:50 9, 16, 18-19
    A2 Tuesday 14:00-15:50 13
    Tuesday 14:00-17:50 9, 16, 18-19

    Workshop

    Stream Days Times Weeks
    Attend one stream from
    A1 Monday 14:00-16:50 17, 20-21
    A2 Tuesday 14:00-16:50 17, 20-21
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