Biological Oceanography

The course introduces the students to biological oceanography. Subjects covered include: Marine life in the oceans, biochemical adaptations to environmental variables, life-history traits, reproduction, hydrography, ocean geography, water masses, seawater characteristics, current systems, thermohaline circulation, ocean conveyor belt, deep and bottom water formation, Ekman transport, marine optics, primary and secondary production, nutrient availability and limitation, nutrient cycling, global carbon flux, microbial loop, biological carbon pump, upwelling, marginal seas, ocean divisions, seafloor and continental margins, impact of climate change, eutrophication, exploitation of the ocean, trophic interactions, plankton communities, benthic ecosystems, sediment characteristics, deep sea habitats, sampling techniques, benthopelagic coupling, nekton.

Knowledge:

• Students should be able to provide major definitions and explain key concepts in the field of biological oceanography by their own words.
• Students should gain knowledge on important ocean environments and ecosystems and should train to describe the key role of the oceans in the earths environment.
• Students should be aware of the impact of biotic and abiotic factors on marine organisms and be able to describe potential threats of climate change, pollution and harvesting activities to the marine environment.

Skills:

• The students should gain competences in describing the coupling between ocean and atmosphere and how the oceans chemical and physical properties can affect marine life.
• The students should explain and discuss how abiotic conditions affect the relationship between marine organisms and their environment and how marine communities respond to changes in biotic and abiotic conditions.

General competency (attitudes):

• Students should develop scientific, analytical skills and practice to contribute actively to scientific discussions.
• Students should be encouraged to communicate with peer students from adjacent disciplines and get confident in reflecting scientific contents and developing critical views.

Classes are given in English, including slides in English. Classes are multinational and include students outside Ocean Resources. In addition to traditional lectures, there is an emphasis on active learning in a seminar format. The students are divided into groups of 2-4 students to work in teams on specific topics (inside the curriculum).

Group work shall be summarized as (1) oral presentation and (2) leading a discussion on assigned topic.

Group work accounts for 40% of final grade. Lectures and seminars are integrated for each topic.

Participation in all activities is mandatory.

Compulsory assignments:

• Approved group presentation on specific topic
• Participation in seminar discussions
• Participation in one day oceanographic cruise