2017 MARI 301 Marine Ecology Course co-­‐ordinator Dr. Candida Savage Department of Marine Science, Rm 148 [email protected], Phone 479 8324 Candida is a marine ecologist who works on coastal communities and ecosystems. Her research investigates the influence of nutrient enrichment on food webs and biogeochemical processes in estuaries, connectivity between ecosystems, and effects of multiple stressors on temperate and tropical marine ecosystems. Teaching Fellow Dr. Jean McKinnon Department of Marine Science, Rm 141 [email protected], Phone 479 5453 Jean is a teuthologist or a cephalopod mollusc specialist with particular interests in how the lifestyle of an organism is recorded in hard body parts. She is also interested in the diet and trophic level of organisms. Jean is a keen scientific illustrator and photographer. Lecturers Associate Professor Miles Lamare Miles has research interests in marine ecology, population biology, and marine invertebrate biology, focusing on the ecology and physiology of marine invertebrate larval stages. He has an interest in Antarctic marine invertebrates and how their physiology differs to temperate and tropical species. Dr Anna Wood Anna Wood is a marine ecologist whose current focus is the relationship between habitat complexity and biodiversity on the seafloor, especially in the biogenic habitat created by bryozoans. Professor Steve Dawson Steve is a marine ecologist and conservation biologist with interests in marine mammal ecology, acoustic behaviour and conservation. His research focuses on the aspects of biology and ecology that are crucial to managing impacts on dolphins and whales and he conducts research to evaluate the effectiveness of management actions. Other lecturers TBC Welcome to MARI 301 Marine Ecology The seas around New Zealand and its Antarctic territories encompass a great diversity of marine habitats and endemic species, making this one of the most exciting places globally to study Marine Ecology. Marine Ecology is the scientific study of marine habitats, populations, and interactions among organisms and the surrounding environment. These interactions include abiotic (non-­‐living physical and chemical factors that affect the ability of organisms to survive and reproduce) and biotic factors (living organisms or the materials that directly or indirectly affect an organism in its environment). During this course you will have an opportunity to investigate the influence of a key functional group on abiotic and biotic factors with a hands-­‐on field manipulation experiment. You will also use instruments and collect samples to measure in-­‐situ ecological processes. The fieldwork and laboratory sessions are designed to complement the lectures, which focus on four themes: (1) Patterns in the marine environment; (2) Processes including primary production, decomposition and secondary production; (3) Fundamental concepts in marine ecology; and (4) Management and Applied Ecology. Many of these themes overlap in the lectures and associated practical sessions. Workload 2 lectures per week Thursdays and Fridays 10.00-­‐11.00 am 1 practical per week Mondays 14.00 – 17.50 Field Trips Saturday 11th March 08.00 – 16.00 (approx.) Saturday 25th March 07.00 – 18.00 (approx.) [Contingency days: Sun 12th & 26th March] Plus compulsory reading and additional assignment work to be completed. Assessment Internal assessment: Pelagic processes report 15% due by 12.00 on 24th March Field experiment MEPS manuscript 25% due by 12.00 on 1st May Marine Protected Areas map 5% due by 12.00 on 22nd May Science communication podcast 5% due by 12.00 on 29th May Final exam: 50% NOTE: lectures, laboratory and practical work and field trips plus indicated reading material are all examinable. Important Places Lectures are in [TBC] Tutorials are in [TBC] Practical laboratories are in [TBC] Data analysis workshops are in [TBC] The science communication podcasts are in [TBC] For field trips meet outside Preens Dry Cleaners at 299 Castle Street before the departure time. The bus leaves on time. Unless a prior arrangement has been made with Candida or Jean, students are expected to catch the bus to the field trips. Professionalism Field trips are compulsory. Please be prompt especially for field trips. Please manage your attendance. Without lecture, field trip and lab attendance, you cannot complete the assignments. If you cannot attend labs, please let me know in writing at least 24 hours in advance to [email protected] Please be prepared. Read the lab material, journal articles, etc. in advance. Please be safe. No eating, drinking or smoking in the lab. Closed toe shoes (no sandals) and a lab coat must be worn at all times in the laboratory. Report all accidents or breakages to the person in charge of the lab. Field guidelines What you need to bring: Suitable (warm and waterproof) clothing Sun protection: hat, sunnies and sun cream Suitable footwear. Gumboots / booties / wetsuits, or even better, waders if you have for the soft-­‐shore experimental work. You will get wet…I promise! Food: We will not be near shops so bring enough food with you for a long day Drink: Bring plenty of water, a thermos of tea/soup is advisable Pencils and notebooks We will go into the field, even if it is raining. In bad weather, the trip may be cancelled. An email will be sent out by 5 pm the night before the trip. Please put aside the Sunday after Field Trip days 1 and 2 as contingency days. Submitting assignments All internal assignments for this course should be submitted as hard copy and electronic copy. The hard copy must be accompanied by the standard Marine Science cover page -­‐ (http://www.otago.ac.nz/marinescience/otago056057.pdf). Assignments must be formatted for A4 paper, single sided, double spaced, with one corner staple, no binding or folders. Pages must be numbered. Assignments must be submitted electronically as a pdf file to the appropriate section of Blackboard for the paper. Assignments must be submitted by the deadline to Jean McKinnon or one of the other Teaching Fellows in Marine Science (room 153). Extensions are normally given only in cases of bereavement or illness with a valid medical certificate. Late penalty is 5% of total marks possible per day including weekend days. Points may also be removed for going over page or word limits. Unless specifically stated, all assessed work must be completed and submitted on an individual basis. Students should be familiar with the University’s policy on dishonest practice, and ensure that all work submitted is their own. Academic Integrity Academic integrity means being honest in your studying and assessments. It is the basis for ethical decision-­‐making and behaviour in an academic context. Academic integrity is informed by the values of honesty, trust, responsibility, fairness, respect and courage. Students are expected to be aware of, and act in accordance with, the University’s Academic Integrity Policy. Academic Misconduct, such as plagiarism (see below) or cheating, is a breach of Academic Integrity and is taken very seriously by the University. Types of misconduct include plagiarism, copying, unauthorised collaboration, taking unauthorised material into a test or exam, impersonation, and assisting someone else’s misconduct. A more extensive list of the types of academic misconduct and associated processes and penalties is available in the University’s Student Academic Misconduct Procedures. It is your responsibility to be aware of and use acceptable academic practices when completing your assessments. To access the information in the Academic Integrity Policy and learn more, please visit the University’s Academic Integrity website at www.otago.ac.nz/study/academicintegrity or ask at the Student Learning Centre or Library. Plagiarism Plagiarism is defined as copying or paraphrasing another's work, whether intentionally or otherwise, and presenting it as one's own (definition approved University Council, December 2004). Plagiarism, namely copying from another person’s work without due acknowledgement, is unacceptable and will result in a severe penalty. Software checks are available to pick up plagiarism. Students should make sure that all submitted work is their own. Any student found responsible for plagiarism in any piece of work submitted for assessment shall be subject to the University's dishonest practice regulations which may result in various penalties, including forfeiture of marks for the piece of work submitted, a zero grade for the paper, or in extreme cases exclusion from the University. Questions? Ask me: [email protected] DRAFT timetable (07.12.16) lecture titles and order TBC
Week
Week beginning
Monday lab
14:00-17:50
9 26th Feb
Thursday lecture
10:00-10:50
Friday lecture
10:00-10:50
Weekend Field trips
Blueskin Bay
NO LAB
Introduction to Marine Ecology
The future of Marine Ecology
10 6th March
Workshop: Experimental design and
preparation for field experiment
Pelagic primary and secondary
production: Global patterns and
processes
Sat 11th March: FIELD 1 Expt: Cockle
manipulation. Collect "start" macrofauna.
Pelagic processes data collection.
Zooplankton and responses to variability 08:00-16:00 (contingency day: Sun 12th)
11 13th March
Lab: Zooplankton ID lab and Pelagic
processes workshop
Benthic primary production: Global
patterns and ecological characteristics
of seaweeds
Benthic ecosystems: Global patterns and
processes
Workshop: Nutrient and oxygen fluxes
Nutrient cycling as a critical ecosystem
12 20th March
and preparation for field experiment Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning function
24th March 12:00 pm. Pelagic Processes: phytoplankton and zooplankton report due (15%)
13 27th March
Lab: Benthic Biodiversity
14 3rd April
CAL lab: Data Analysis workshop
15 10th April
CAL lab: Data Analysis workshop
16 17th to 22nd April Mid semester break
Marine biogeography: Global patterns
and connectivity
Early life history stages of marine
organisms I
Marine metapopulations
Development of a marine cultural health
17 24th April
ANZAC DAY
index
1st May 12:00 pm. Field experiment manuscript due (25%)
Community-based fisheries
18 1st May
East Otago Taiapure visit
management
19 8th May
Workshop: Marine Protected Areas
Fisheries and Conservation science
20 15th April
Workshop: Science communication
Marine conservation
Habitat-forming bryozoans: Is fishing a
21 22nd May
Work on podcasts
threat?
22nd May 12:00 pm. Annotated MPA map due (5%)
22 29rd May
Marine biogeography: Global patterns
and connectivity
Early life history stages of marine
organisms II
NO LECTURE: GOOD FRIDAY
Traditional uses of seaweeds in New
Zealand
Ecosystem-based management
Data models and management
Case studies: the impact of fishing
Ecological feedbacks and thresholds
Science communication podcasts (5%) Climate change and marine ecosystems Revision and exam prep
Sat 25th: FIELD 2 Expt: Nutrient and
oxygen fluxes. Collect "end" macrofauna.
07:00-18:00 (contingency day: Sun 26th)