Ocean Science

This is a broad course in modern marine research, with emphasis on fisheries and marine biological methods. The course is comprised of theoretical and practical modules covering habitats and organisms, nearshore ecology, research vessel experience, field observations methods, and training in modelling and analysis of field data. The theoretical components offer an introducation to biological oceanography, the basis for marine productivity, and presentation of selected marine ecosystems and models.The practical course components, consisting of coastal field studies and a research vessel cruise in the North Sea or the west coast fjords will give an introduction to planning and design of research projects, and offer insight into life history and ecology of the most important species in these habitats. Sampling and recording and handling marine field data, as well as data analysis and modelling, will give training in the central research methods for observation and assessing abundance of marine species. Field work/experiments will cover various technigques, using practical examples to evaluate the purpose, strengts and weaknesses of each approach. This will include common apporaches for collecting data for marine research, such as surveys, acoustics, times series, ROVs, and their applications in process studies and resource mapping. The links bweteen these and assessment and advice for exploitation of marine resources will be introduced in this course.

On completion of BIO325 students shall have achieved the following learning outcomes:

- Understand and be able to use modelling tools to study the driving forces of marine productivity

- Understand how physical processes and structure influence the biological interactions and distribution of marine orgamisms

- Have knowledge of selected habitats and nursery areas/recrutiment areas of marine organisms and have an overview of the major inshore and open ocean organisms and their ecology

- Be able to use appropriate tools, including taxonomic keys, to identify common marine animals in Norwegian waters

- Be able to plan and execute field work to answer research questions

- Have basic knowledge of the most common methods for collection of field data for modern marine research

- Be able to explain and evaluate the principles of different sampling approaches, and their strengths and weaknesses

- Be able to process, catalog, and interpret collected field samples and experimental data

- Be able to communicate scientific results from field studies

- Have knowledge of the basic effects of fisheries and harvesting/exploitation of marine biological resources

- Understand and consider the uncertainties in marine data collection and modelling and what that means for management advice

- Have learned to work as part of a team onboard a resarch ship, following safe practices in field work