The aim of the course is to give a basic knowledge on marine environments and organisms.
The ocean basins. Radiative ocean-atmosphere interactions. Fluids movements. In water light propagation. Primary and secondary production. Optical remote sensing. Biogeochemical cycles in the sea. Applied coastal oceanography and marine pollution. Planktonic organisms, biodiversity. Seasonal succession food webs. Space-time distribution of biological processes. Eutrophication and toxic blooms.
VALIELA I., Marine Ecological Processes. Springer , 1994.
TAIT & DIPPER, Elements of Marine Ecology. Butterworths, 1998.
KIRK J.T.O., Light and photosynthesis in aquatic ecosystems. Cambridge University Press, London, 1994.
Learning Objectives
Provide skill for critical analysis of environmental data and biotic factors. Monitoring of environmental quality. Assessment of biodiversity 'and biotic indices.
Methods of sampling and analysis
for marine environments
Morphology and dynamics of the ocean basins. Ocean-atmosphere interactions. Pelagic habitats. Introduction to hydrology and fluid movements. Physical structures, currents, eddies, fronts. Light propagation in water. Bio-optical properties of the medium sea. Production, consumption and decomposition of organic matter. Passive and active remote sensing of pelagic resources. Estimation of Primary Production by satellite. Analysis of the geographical distribution of biological processes. Biogeochemical cycles and limiting nutrients. Seasonal cycles, succession and biodiversity. Applied coastal oceanography, marine protected areas, mariculture, aquaculture, marine pollution, eutrophication. Coastal internal and transitional waters. Upwelling ecosystems. Case studies, the Southern Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
Laboratory exercises and field measurements of environmental factors and biological processes in the sea, with representation and analysis of oceanographic data.