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  6. BI39Z3: SUB-TROPICAL MARINE AND FRESHWATER HABITATS

BI39Z3: SUB-TROPICAL MARINE AND FRESHWATER HABITATS (2015-2016)

Last modified: 25 Mar 2016 11:35


Course Overview

  • An overseas field course delivered in northwest Florida during one week of the Easter holidays.
  •  Local experts guide you through the range of habitats and ecosystems found on the Florida coast.
  •  Visits include seagrass meadows, an estuary reserve, energy coasts, freshwater springs and sand dunes and provide an overview of what structures the ecosystems and an awareness of the impacts of human activities on coastal systems.
  •  Structured sampling activities strengthen your skills in recording data, keeping a field notebook and analyzing information to compare and contrast ecosystems.

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 3
Session Second Sub Session Credit Points 7.5 credits (3.75 ECTS credits)
Campus None. Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Tara Marshall

Qualification Prerequisites

None.

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

  • One of BI25Z4 Ocean Biology (Studied) or ZO3304 Marine Ecology and Ecosystems (Studied) or ZO3306 Marine Ecology and Ecosystems (Studied) or ZO3508 Marine Ecology and Ecosystems (Studied)
  • One of BSc Biology (Studied) or BSc Conservation Biology (Studied) or BSc Biology-Environmental Humanities (Studied) or BSc Plant Biology (Studied) or BSc Zoology (Studied) or BSc Animal Ecology (Studied) or BSc Marine Biology (Studied) or BSc Parasitology (Studied) or BSc Animal Behaviour (Studied) or BSc Behavioural Biology (Studied) or MSci Biological Sciences (Studied) or BSc Plant and Soil Sciences (Studied) or BSc Biology - Education (Primary) (Studied) or BSc Ecology (Studied) or BSc Wildlife Management (Studied) or BSc Forestry (Studied) or BSc Forest Sciences (Studied) or BSc Environmental Science (Studied) or BSc Environmental Science (Physical Sci) (Studied) or BSc Biology - Education (Secondary) (Studied)
  • Any Undergraduate Programme (Studied)
  • Either Programme Level 3 or Programme Level 4

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

None.

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

The course will be delivered at the Florida State University Coastal and Marine Laboratory, St Teresa, Florida (http://www.marinelab.fsu.edu/). The coast of northwest Florida is considered one of six biodiversity hotspots in the United States. Florida State University Coastal & Marine Laboratory (FSUCML) has easy access to a mosaic of habitats ranging from oyster reefs to seagrass meadows, with boat access to nearshore sponge reefs and offshore drowned patch reefs. Facilities at the laboratory include a fleet of boats, residences, classrooms, and laboratories. Trips to nearby field sites will be run on the first five days. These trips will study some or all following habitats: seagrass meadow, wetlands, sandy shore or muddy/silty shore, estuary, salt marsh and dunes. Each field trip will be followed by an associated group-based activity which compares structure and functioning of the sub-tropical environment with a temperate environment local to Aberdeen. This comparison will also include an analysis of issues related to environmental sustainability and habitat use.

Associated Costs

Field course costs approx. £525 dependant on student numbers
Students are required to book their own flights but must not do so before their place is confirmed on the course
Students will be required to purchase some evening meals

Further Information & Notes

Please note, in case of low student enrolments, this course may not run.

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

1st Attempt: Course assessment will be based on two elements: a field note book (50%) and project work (50%). The field note book will be kept by individual students throughout the course to record data and relevant information. Project work will focus on one issue of particular interest, and students will work in pairs. On the final day of the course students will present oral presentations summarising their project work. Resit: Resubmission of notebook (50%) and submission of a written project report (50%).

Formative Assessment

Formative assessment will be provided during interactions between staff and students on field trips and during group activities throughout.

Feedback

Each student will receive individual feedback and a mark for each task. Feedback will be provided as written comments. Groups will also be given generic feedback.

Course Learning Outcomes

None.
 

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