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ZO25F1: LITTORAL AND SUBLITTORAL MARINE BIOLOGY FIELD COURSE (2020-2021)

Last modified: 25 Aug 2020 15:10


Course Overview

This is a marine biological field course to the Millport Field Centre on the Isle of Cumbrae in the Firth of Clyde. The centre, run by the Field Studies Council, is located on an island which is a ten-minute ferry crossing from the mainland terminal at Largs. The island and has a variety of types of shore and depths offshore ranging to over 100 m within a few kilometres of the field centre. The marine biota is correspondingly varied. Being within the enclosed waters of the Firth of Clyde it is comparatively sheltered and safe. The centre provides modern accommodation and classrooms for lectures/seminars and labwork to process field samples. The centre also has a small research vessel, which provides an opportunity for students to experience working at sea in the sheltered waters around the island, and to see oceanographic and navigational instruments and sublittoral sampling devices first hand. There is a long history of marine biological research and teaching at Millport (a marine station was first established in 1885) and students will follow in the footsteps of generations of marine biologists in learning about littoral (shore) and sublittoral marine organisms and the methods used to study them in the field.

 

Details of the course content may be affected by weather and tides, but it is expected that the course will include profiling and semi-quantitative biological survey of two rocky shores of contrasting degree of wave exposure; profiling, quantitative biological survey and basic granulometric analysis of a sandy shore; sampling and examination of sublittoral benthos from a research vessel with a beam trawl and Day grab; plankton sampling by different methods; and a short group project run over one and half days.

 

Please note that the information provided is subject to change due to the ongoing Covid-19 government guidelines

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 2
Session Second Sub Session Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Philip Smith

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Either Programme Level 2 or Programme Level 3
  • Any Undergraduate Programme
  • One of Biology (BI) or Ecology (EK) or Environmental Sciences (EV) or Forestry (FY) or Plant Science (PL) or Zoology (ZO)

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

Course aims

  • To introduce students to quantitative and qualitative methods of investigating the biota and habitat characteristics of littoral and sublittoral marine environments
  • To expose students to a broad range of marine taxa, especially invertebrates, but including vertebrates and algae, sampled alive from their natural habitats (habitat characteristics will also be investigated).
  • To consider adaptations to environment, systematic relationships and, where appropriate, economic significance of marine organisms
  • To acquire skills in sampling methods, species identification, data handling and presentation of field investigations.
  • To develop skills in teamwork, oral presentation, and critical appraisal in the context of group project work.

Associated Costs

DescriptionValue
School will subsidize costs as with other level 2 field courses and students will be required to make a contribution to costs, estimated at £250. Costs will include transport to the field station, room and board, rental of teaching space, boat time and equipment. GBP 230.00

Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 31 August 2023 for 1st half-session courses and 22 December 2023 for 2nd half-session courses.

Summative Assessments

Class Test

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 50
Assessment Weeks 42 Feedback Weeks 43

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Feedback

Written feedback will be provided through the VLE.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualAnalyseGive an account of the main components of phyto- and zooplankton present in the local area at the time of the field course;
ConceptualEvaluateDiscuss the factors affecting zonation of littoral organisms;
ConceptualUnderstandDescribe the adaptations and ecological role of representative species and understand the main factors influencing their distribution;
ProceduralAnalyseAnalyse and present marine field data
ProceduralApplyDescribe and safely execute appropriate sampling methods for the biota of rocky shores, sandy shores and nearshore seabed;

Class Test

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 30
Assessment Weeks 42,43 Feedback Weeks 43,44

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Feedback

Group, generic feedback provided on the day, individualised written feedback provided through the VLE following return to Aberdeen

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualAnalyseGive an account of the main components of phyto- and zooplankton present in the local area at the time of the field course;
ConceptualEvaluateDiscuss the factors affecting zonation of littoral organisms;
ConceptualUnderstandDescribe the adaptations and ecological role of representative species and understand the main factors influencing their distribution;
ProceduralApplyDescribe and safely execute appropriate sampling methods for the biota of rocky shores, sandy shores and nearshore seabed;
ProceduralApplyUse keys to identify and classify the common species found on rocky and sandy shores and the sea bed in the local area of the field course;

Oral Presentation: Group

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 20
Assessment Weeks 42,43,44 Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Informal verbal feedback will be provided on the day, written group feedback will be provided through the VLE

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualAnalyseGive an account of the main components of phyto- and zooplankton present in the local area at the time of the field course;
ProceduralAnalyseAnalyse and present marine field data
ProceduralApplyDescribe and safely execute appropriate sampling methods for the biota of rocky shores, sandy shores and nearshore seabed;
ProceduralApplyUse keys to identify and classify the common species found on rocky and sandy shores and the sea bed in the local area of the field course;

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ProceduralApplyProduce accurate, annotated drawings of marine organisms;
ReflectionCreateInteract with others in the execution of team-based fieldwork
ConceptualUnderstandDescribe the adaptations and ecological role of representative species and understand the main factors influencing their distribution;
ProceduralAnalyseAnalyse and present marine field data
ProceduralApplyDescribe and safely execute appropriate sampling methods for the biota of rocky shores, sandy shores and nearshore seabed;
ConceptualAnalyseGive an account of the main components of phyto- and zooplankton present in the local area at the time of the field course;
ProceduralApplyUse keys to identify and classify the common species found on rocky and sandy shores and the sea bed in the local area of the field course;
ConceptualEvaluateDiscuss the factors affecting zonation of littoral organisms;

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