Module overview
During this fieldcourse you will conduct snorkeling surveys of coral reef and soft bottom habitats by boat and from the beach. You will map marine underwater habitats in one of the world’s most iconic biodiversity hotspots. You will evaluate the influence of water quality on this diversity along gradients of human impact and understand the importance of the wider reef catchment area including mangrove and rainforest habitats.
Students taking this module need to be Marine Biology MSci, Biology and Marine Biology MSci or Marine Biology with Oceanography MSci students who have successfully completed their third year.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Evidence survey expertise; including snorkeling expertise.
- Show development of existing scientific writing skills and data visualisation
- Evidence the development of recording activities as well as data collection, analysis and reporting.
- Evidence data manipulation skills along side statistical skills;
- Evidence independent research working skills and group working skills;
- Show an Increased understanding of tropical working environment, safety issues beyond those normally encountered in UK;
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Evidence travelling to non-European destination, understanding of non EU country entry requirements and travelling logistics;
- Be able to work effectively in a small group,
- Understand need for prior planning with respect to inoculations and equipment availability,
- Demonstrate improvement using spreadsheets, data visualisation software and statistical packages for data analysis.
- Evidence learning to work in an unfamiliar situation;
- Be able to work independently,
- Demonstrate improvement in writing skills,
Learning Outcomes
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Understand how to report findings at the year 4 MSci level.
- Demonstrate a clear understanding of major aspects of Tropical Marine Biology as appropriate.
- Understand how to collect, analyse and present data.
- Undertake safe, independent research in a tropical environment.
- Identify a range of tropical marine plants and animals and map their habitat.
- Understand and have experience of specialist marine survey techniques and specialist software.
Syllabus
The course will provide a thorough grounding in tropical marine biology and associated fieldwork. Fieldwork will include snorkeling surveys of coral and seagrass/algae habitats and surveys in mangrove habitats so ensuring that there is first hand experience of seeing a variety of tropical animals and plants in their native environment.
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
This is an intensive fieldcourse course of around 8 days duration (exact length depends on destination and logistics).
Formal preparatory lectures will be delivered in Southampton before departure, providing an appropriate grounding in elements of tropical biology, the destination as well as good health and safety and risk assessment practice.
Practical sessions, group learning: will be supported by extensive fieldwork that will include snorkeling surveys and, when possible, boat work.
Informal field based tutorials: advice and support will be available from staff and, if applicable, staff associated with field stations.
One to one research training in the field: advice and support will be available to help students plan and execute survey work.
Individual learning with staff: advice and support available for presentation and reporting of results.
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Independent Study | 78 |
| Lecture | 12 |
| Fieldwork | 60 |
| Total study time | 150 |
Assessment
Assessment strategy
Presentation of key results (70%): Specific aspects of the survey work will be analysed in details and presented in an appropriate written format. Specifically, this assessment will summarise field data collection and analytical methods, discuss the outcomes of the analysis and propose follow-on work prompted by the field surveys.
Tests learning outcomes 1, 3, 4 & 6.
Documentation and scientific analysis of field observations (30%): This assessment will provide evidence for the successful participation in scientific activities, application of observational skills and documentation created over the duration of the entire fieldcourse . Tests learning outcomes 2, 3 & 5 . This will provide experience of documenting underwater observational surveys activities and results. The outcomes of this exercise will be presented in form of an oral presentation of an electronic poster.
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Group Poster Presentation | 30% |
| Final Report | 70% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: External