Blue Planet-Intro to Marine Environments

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2014:

Lectures and compulsory field excursion.

Weekend field excursion on 22 and 23 March to Thirteenth Beach, Barwon Heads.

Estimated total time commitment of 120 hours

One of

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For the purposes of considering applications for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005) and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, this subject requires all students to actively and safely participate in practical work and field excursion activities. Students who feel their disability may impact upon their participation are encouraged to discuss this with the Subject Coordinator and the Disability Liaison Unit. http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This subject will introduce students to the interrelationships among marine organisms and the ocean they live in and how these interactions are changing as a consequence of human activities. Topics covered include: ocean circulation, productivity and the impacts of climate change; coastal upwelling, food web dynamics and the impacts of fishing; coastal currents, species ranges and the effects of introduced marine pests; and land-sea connections, nutrient cycling and toxic algal blooms. How to study the interactions between the ocean and its flora and fauna will be investigated through a compulsory weekend field excursion on 22 and 23 March to Thirteenth Beach, Barwon Heads.

The objectives of this subject are to:

• introduce the sciences of marine biology and oceanography,
• demonstrate how various elements of the living marine environment interrelate and are part of the complex system we know as the world’s oceans,
• increase awareness of human impacts on the marine environment, and
• provide basic tools for understanding and studying the marine environment.

A written excursion report up to 2000 words due during the semester (30%); a 60 minute mid-semester test (20%); a 3-hour written examination in the examination period (50%).

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• Levinton J.S. Marine Biology: Function, Biodiversity, Ecology
• Garrison T.S. Oceanography: An Invitation to Marine Science
  

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Environments
• Bachelor of Music

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

The subject builds upon generic skills developed in first year level subjects, including the ability to approach and assimilate new knowledge and an ability to use that knowledge to evaluate theories and communicate ideas. Students should also develop skills in field sampling techniques and to apply these skills to investigate marine environmental issues.

Participation in a field trip is required for this subject.

This subject is available for science credit to students enrolled in the BSc (both pre-2008 and new degrees),