This module is a residential marine field course at the Marine Biological Association of the UK (MBA) in Plymouth. The aim of the module is to allow students to develop their field research skills in marine biology. Students will gain experience in identification of marine organisms including a wide variety of animals and algae. Building on these skills students will apply them in measuring the diversity of organisms in marine habitats using a number of different techniques for describing the distribution and abundance of organisms. Students will also begin to develop their understanding of the design of research programmes and field data analysis.
Learning Outcomes
To pass this module, students will need to be able to:
1. Knowledge of marine invertebrate and algal identification, classification and distribution patterns in temperate waters;
2. Competence in the use of taxonomic keys to recognise and name common species of aquatic plants and animals found in the habitats studied;
3. Competence in experimental design, data handling and analysis appropriate to marine field research;
4. Ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally, accessing and using published resources appropriately.