1. ICIS Module Spec - BI3S25 MARINE AND FRESHWATER BIOLOGY
Saved on: Thursday 06 November 2014 09:08PM
BI3S25 - MARINE AND FRESHWATER BIOLOGY 09 MAY 2012 - 30 SEP 2018 | Version 1
Associated Module Information
Module Code: BI3S25
Module Title: MARINE AND FRESHWATER BIOLOGY
Faculty: Faculty of Health, Sport and Science
Faculty Group: Department of Science and Sport
Faculty Sub Group: N/A
Module Leader: Tim P Johnson
Module Team: Peter R Wiles
First Intended Intake: NOV 2012 Final Year of Intake: NOV 2012
Date Validated: 31 JUL 2007 Date Closed: N/A
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 6 (Honours (H))
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module: N/A
JACS Code:
ASC Code:
Document Version Information
Version: 1
Valid From: 09 MAY 2012
Valid To: 30 SEP 2018
Module Aims
This module will provide the student with an introduction to aquatic ecosystems and the ecology, physiology
and behaviour of their plants and animals.
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2. ICIS Module Spec - BI3S25 MARINE AND FRESHWATER BIOLOGY
Content Summary
Marine Biology
Basic oceanographic processes and the chemical composition of seawater. The formation of waves, ocean
currents, upwelling, Ekman Spiral/Transport, Langmuir circulation, thermal stratification (thermocline)
The plankton. The major groups of planktonic organisms, their distribution, behaviour and physiology and with
selected examples their importance in the productivity of oceanic waters.
The nekton. The major groups of organisms within the nekton and their importance
103
in the maintenance and stability of marine ecosystems. The diversity, life and habits of selected groups (fish,
pinnipeds, cetaceans).
Deep Sea Biology. Zonation and environmental characteristics. Adaptations of deep sea organisms. Community
ecology of the benthos. Hydrothermal vents.
Shallow-water subtidal benthic communities. Sea grass beds, kelp beds and kelp forests, sedimentary and
rocky subtidal communities.
Intertidal ecology. Rocky, sandy and muddy shores. Estuaries and Salt Marshes.
Tropical communities – coral reefs and mangroves.
Freshwater
The freshwater environment: a consideration of physical properties of ecological importance, e.g. variations in
temperature, density and intensity of illumination. Thermal stratification in lakes. Chemical composition of natural
waters, dissolved inorganic and organic constituents, dissolved gases. Sources of mineral compounds.
Freshwater habitats: a study of the distribution and adaptation of animals and plants to the lentic environment.
Lotic habitats, river zonation schemes and the adaptations of organisms to life in running water.
Importance of physical factors in freshwater habitats: the influence of current, substratum and temperature on
the behaviour, distribution and physiology of freshwater organisms.
Chemical factors influencing freshwater organisms: the importance of water hardness, dissolved oxygen and
pH in influencing the distribution, behaviour and physiology of freshwater organisms as deduced from field and
experimental observation.
Biotic factors: the importance of competition and predation in freshwater communities.
Life-cycles in freshwater invertebrates: seasonal changes in the planktonic and benthic communities.
Freshwater Fish and Fisheries – life cycles and habits of selected species. Assessment and management of
freshwater fisheries.
Freshwater aquatic vegetation: characteristic features of aquatic species, plant associations in relation to water
conditions. Transitional aspects of aquatic plant communities.
Learning and Teaching Methods
Activity Type Hours
Lecture 48
Independent Study 152
Total Hours Selected 200
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3. ICIS Module Spec - BI3S25 MARINE AND FRESHWATER BIOLOGY
Learning Outcomes
# Learning Outcome
1 Understand the functioning of freshwater ecosystems.
2 Be familiar with the worlds’ major aquatic environments, the organisms living within them and the effects of
human disturbance and exploitation on them.
3 Understand the physiology and behaviour of selected marine and freshwater organisms in relation to their
habits and the environmental factors experienced throughout their life cycles.
4 Have acquired a knowledge and understanding of the laboratory and field techniques associated with this
academic discipline.
Module Requisites
Pre / Co Requisites
Module Code Module Title Requisite Type
BI2S12 VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY Pre-Requisite
Other Requisites
Other Prerequisite(s):
N/A
Other Corequisite(s):
N/A
Assessment Criteria
Assessment
Assessment Description Duration Word
Weight
Category
Count
(%)
Best
of?
Set Exercise -
Time
Constrained
Classroom test -
Time constrained
1
Two in-class
powerpoint tests
45 500 15 No
Written
Assignment
Essay 1 1 or 2 timed, in-class
open book
essays
N/A 500 15 No
Written
Assignment
Practical written
work 1
Short laboratory
sessions and/or
field visits
N/A 500 10 No
Written Exam Written exam -
closed book
(unseen) 1
N/A 180 N/A 60 No
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4. ICIS Module Spec - BI3S25 MARINE AND FRESHWATER BIOLOGY
Assessment Matrix
Learning Outcomes
Assessment Criteria 1 2 3 4
Classroom test - Time constrained 1 Yes Yes Yes -
Practical written work 1 Yes Yes Yes -
Essay 1 - - - Yes
Written exam - closed book (unseen) 1 Yes Yes Yes -
Reading List
# Reading List Entry
1 Marine
2 Berta A, Sumich JL, Kovacs KM, Folkens PA, Adam PJ (2006) Marine mammals : evolutionary biology. 2nd
Ed. Amsterdam ; London : Elsevier AP.
3 Bond CE (2006). Bond‟s Biology of Fishes, 3rd ed (Brooks Cole)
4 Boyd IL, Bowen WD and Iverson SJ (2010) Marine mammal ecology and conservation : a handbook of
techniques. Techniques in ecology and conservation series. Oxford University Press.
5 Nybakken JW and Bertness M.D. (2005) Marine Biology - An ecological approach, 6th ed (Addison-Wesley
Longman)
6 Thurman HV, Trujillo AJ (2002) Essentials of oceanography. 7th ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J. : London :
Prentice Hall ; Pearson Education..
7 Tyler, PA (2003) Ecosystems of the deep oceans [electronic resource]. NetLibrary, Inc.
8 Amsterdam ; New York : Elsevier.
9 Sheppard, CRC (2002) Coral reefs : ecology, threats & conservation. World life library. Stillwater,
Minn.Voyageur Press.
10 Freshwater
11 Dodds WK (2002) Freshwater Ecology: Concepts & Environmental Applications (Aquatic Ecology).
(Academic Press) Kalff J (2001) Limnology (Prentice Hall) Wetzel RG (2001) Limnology: Lake and River
Ecosystems 3rd ed (Academic Press)
Key Skills
# Key Skill
1 1. Intellectual skills
2 2. Organisational skills
3 3. Computing and IT skills
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