MARI 432 Subtidal Marine Ecology
Department of Marine Science
This 24-point paper seeks to expose postgraduate students in sciences to advanced topics in subtidal marine ecology through a series of lectures, laboratory sessions and field excursions covering a broad array of subtidal marine habitats and sampling techniques. Each day will consist of a morning field excursion dive followed by a lecture and laboratory exercise expounding upon the morning’s observations and data collection. Field trips to Stewart Island and Doubtful Sound will provide access to remote and unique subtidal habitats. Students will develop an in-depth knowledge of local subtidal organisms and be provided with an opportunity to design and develop field research projects.
Topics include:
- taxonomy and trophic structure within kelp-forest communities, soft-bottom communities, rocky-reef communities and fjord communities
- techniques for quantifying; recruitment, growth and age, distribution and abundance, community diversity and richness
- experimental design and methods.
Exposure to these topics is through hands-on applied research projects in subtidal ecology. The course will consist of three group projects with each participant responsible for a defined project component.
Prerequisites
MARI 301 or MARI 414, and MARI 416.
Note: Students who do not have the MARI prerequisites may be admitted to the course with the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sciences) through the Head of the Department.
Must be approved for SCUBA DIVING and/or SNORKLING at the University of Otago.
Restrictions
Cannot be taken with any other paper during Summer School 2010.
Time commitment
Dives/Labs/Lectures Mon, Wed, Fri: all day, at Portobello Marine Laboratory
The first dive/lab/lecture is on Wednesday, 6 January
Field trip Entire week, TBA, R V Polaris
Lecturer
Associate Professor Stephen Wing (course coordinator)
Prescribed textbook
There is no prescribed textbook. Course materials will be supplied.
Assessment
Log book 33%
Final practical report 33%
Final project report 34%
Class limits
Minimum 6, maximum 12
