BS705-7-FY-CO:
Tropical Marine Resources
PLEASE NOTE: This module is inactive. Visit the Module Directory to view modules and variants offered during the current academic year.
2023/24
Life Sciences (School of)
Colchester Campus
Full Year
Postgraduate: Level 7
Inactive
Thursday 05 October 2023
Friday 28 June 2024
30
16 February 2024
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
BS711
This module has been designed to enable you to speak knowledgably about marine resources and provide you with the capacity to develop your expertise in this field by further reading and research.
The bioinformatics practical class complements the lectures by giving you deep insight in how to understand marine diversity from DNA sequence data.
The aim of this module is:
- To focus on tropical marine resources with an emphasis on fisheries, mariculture, biotechnology, sustainable management and conservation management.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Discuss the diversity and socio-economic value of tropical marine resources.
- Discuss the environmental, social and economic impacts of tropical marine resources and prospects for more sustainable production and harvesting.
- Discuss biotechnology industries based around tropical marine resources.
- Discuss biotechnological products stemming from marine resources.
- Explain the status and trends in global marine fisheries, with emphasis on tropical marine environments.
- Demonstrate an appreciation of the differing roles and agendas of stakeholders associated with local and international marine resource development and an understanding of approaches suited to enhanced planning and management.
- Show competence in applying an established model and interpreting its results.
- Show competence in retrieving relevant information from diverse sources.
Tropical marine ecosystems provide important resources locally and globally, and support the livelihoods of more than half a billion people around the world. Tropical marine resources, however, are threatened by a number of different factors, including global environmental change, over-exploitation, pollution and environmental degradation caused by coastal development. Our planet's population is predicted to rise from 7.8 billion to 9.7 billion by the year 2050 with major changes expected for coastal societies, and this, combined with coastal transmigration, may lead to doubling of tropical marine resource exploitation over the next 50 years. Additionally, mining for mineral resources in the deep sea poses a threat to an ecosystem whose diversity is poorly understood.
Therefore, it has never been more important for marine biologists to understand the value of marine resources – not just coral reefs and fisheries and not just macroorganisms. In fact, using the marine environment to help meet many of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (the Blue Biotechnology agenda) is underpinned by a need for more holistic understanding of diverse marine ecosystems and the interplay between all organisms within them.
This module has been designed to enable you to speak knowledgably about marine resources and provide you with the capacity to develop your expertise in this field by further reading and research. The bioinformatics practical class complements the lectures by giving you deep insight in how to understand marine diversity from DNA sequence data.
There will be an initial focus on microorganisms, both cultivated and uncultivated, that provide a biotechnological 'treasure chest' by supplying novel metabolites and enzymes for pharmaceuticals and more sustainable industrial processes and products, including bioplastics. Invertebrates (and the microbes that they house) are also a major source novel pharmaceuticals, such as anti-cancer drugs and antibiotics to combat the threat of antimicrobial resistant pathogens. They are a source of other products as well as providing inspiration for novel materials. The issues of biofouling and oil pollution, together with their biologically driven resolutions, will be explored in some depth.
Resources from the deep sea and tropical coastal environments will also be discussed in detail. Here, and throughout the module, you will explore the human element of tropical marine resources, including issues of ownership of marine biodiversity, trade, tourism, conservation and sustainable management. Management strategies need to consider the main factors resulting in ecosystem demise from a multidisciplinary standpoint. However, protecting food security, access to clean water and sustainable economies are key requirements, and illustrate the delicate balancing act between the need for development and conservation.
This module will be delivered via:
- Twenty 1-hour theory lectures in the spring term.
- Option from list below:
- Option A: Tropical Marine Conservation & Management Field Course.
- Option B: Volunteer Placement Programme.
- Option C: Literature Review & Presentation.
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's
reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Boyd McKew, email: boyd.mckew@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Boyd McKew, Dr Michelle Taylor,
School Graduate Office, email: bsgradtaught (Non essex users should add @essex.ac.uk to create a full email address)
No
No
No
Dr Sebastian Hennige
Available via Moodle
Of 28 hours, 24 (85.7%) hours available to students:
4 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
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