Course content

The course gives a broad introduction in marine ecology with a focus on Norwegian and Nordic conditions. Important issues are eco-clines and marine biogeography; chemical-physical factors and the abiotic environment; biodiversity; phytoplankton, pigments and storage components; toxic microalga; photosynthesis; growth rate and respiration of microalgae; limiting and controlling factors of algal growth; heterotrophic plankton; grouping of plankton; functional plankton groups; feed uptake, metabolism and energetics; decomposition chain; trophic level, -transfers, and -efficiency; population dynamics in planktonic communities; global marine production; aquaculture and fisheries; carbon pump and climate, disturbing impacts on marine ecosystems, principles for conservation of marine ecosystems.

Learning outcome

Knowledge:
The candidate will have knowledge about:
General definitions and concepts of marine ecology and biodiversity
Geographic patterns of organisms and the abiotic marine environment
Plankton and nekton organisms of marine ecosystems, with a focus on functional groups
Photosynthesis of autotrophic plankton
Decomposition of organic material and food web dynamics
Various sources of impacts on marine ecosystems
Goals and methods for conservation of marine ecosystems

Skills:
The candidate may describe:
The principle definitions and concepts of marine ecology
The important abiotic factors that drive organisms of marine ecosystems
The main groups of marine organisms and their interactions
The main pathways of production and decomposition in the sea
Typical effects of fisheries, aquaculture and physical disturbancies on marine ecosystems
Principles and methods for conservation of marine ecosystems

General competence:
The candidate knows and understands:
The importance of the marine abiotic environment for the richness of species
The main functions of autotrophic and heterotrophic organisms in the marine ecosystem
Mechanisms of the fundamental relations and interactions among organisms and among organisms and their abiotic environment
The principle transport mechanisms of material and energy in the food webs
Identification/classification/reduction of various types of impacts on marine ecosystems

Learning methods and activities

Lectures that also describe the pensum, copies of lectures are uploaded to Blackboard.
Textbook: Kaiser et al. (last version). Marine Ecology: Processes, Systems, and Impacts. Oxford University Press.
Teachers give specific recommendations about other literature.

Recommended previous knowledge

Basic education in biology from universities or comparable.

Credit reductions