Marine Ecology

Learn about Marine Ecology and Sea Life

• Shorelines, Estuaries, Open seas, ocean depths
• How the living and non living components fit together and relate to each other
• How to better manage these marine environments to be sustainable and stable in the long term

Lesson Structure

There are 10 lessons in this course:

1. Scope and Nature of Marine Ecology
   • Introduction
   • Different Marine Ecosystems
   • Coral Reefs
   • Types of Coral Reef - fringing reefs, atolls, barrier reefs
   • Purpose of a Coral Reef
   • Rocky Shore
   • Kelp Forest
   • Seagrass meadow
   • Mangrove
   • Estuary
   • Salt Marsh
   • Tundras
   • Open Ocean
   • Deep Ocean
2. Biodiversity of Marine Environments
   • Measuring Biodiversity
   • Why Biodiversity Matters - species richness, genetic diversity
   • Marine Protists and Plant Life
   • Bony Fish
   • Sharks and Rays
   • Whales
   • Microscopic Invertebrates
   • Worms and Worm Like Animals
   • Corals and their Relatives
   • Molluscs and Echinoderms
   • Microbe - bacteria, fungi, marine viruses
   • Microbial Loop
   • Carbon Cycling and Dissolved Organic Carbon
   • Biodiversity in a Reef
   • Food Webs
   • Declining Biodiversity
3. Environmental Factors of Marine Environments
   • Introduction
   • Types of Water - sea, fresh, brackish
   • Oceanography
   • Oceanic circulation
   • Longitudinal Circulation
   • Southern Oscillation (El Nino, La Nina Effect)
   • Ocean Gyres
   • Ocean Zones
   • Pelagic Zone
   • Abiotic Factors - light, temperature, salinity, density, dissolved gases
   • Climate
4. Climate Change & Other Anthropogenic Pressures
   • How humans create Biodiversity Threats
   • Agricultural Runoff (into estuaries)
   • Fresh water Pollutants - sediments, agricultural chemicals, other
   • Salinity Changes
   • Oil Spills
   • Disturbed Food Chains
   • Overfishing
   • Climate Change
   • Ocean Warming and Sea Levels
   • Ocean Acidification
   • Testing pH
   • Coral Bleaching
5. Restoration of Natural Marine Ecosystems
   • Microplastics
   • Ecotoxicology
   • Eutrophication
   • Erosion
   • Flood Prevention
   • Restoring Coral Reefs
   • Coral Reef Threats- agricultural runoff, seaweed/kelp, sand, sunscreen, climate change, predators.
   • Restoration through Coral Transplantation
   • Restoration through Micro fragmentation
   • Coral Nurseries
   • Planting out Corals and Substrates
   • Regeneration using Natural Reed Beds to Purify Waste Water
6. Managing Threatened Species (Practical and Regulatory Approaches)
   • Introduction to Invasive Species
   • Managing Invasive Species
   • Population Surveys and Monitoring
   • Census of Marine Life
   • Managing a Threatened Species via Conservation Practices
   • Conservation of Threatened Species
   • Where to Start
   • Conservation of Habitat
   • Ecological Gap Analysis
   • Reference Sites
   • Breeding Programs
   • Keystone Species
   • Predators
   • Ecosystem Engineers
   • Mutualists
   • Intervention Types - Regulation
   • Case Study
7. Managing Fisheries in Marine Ecosystems
   • Introduction
   • Case Study - Overfishing Orange Roughy
   • Stock Identity
   • Stock Assessment
   • Stock Biomass
   • Stock Management Methods
   • General Techniques for Managing Fisheries - habitat restoration/closure, seasonal closure, closed waters, protected Statius, Limits, Catch Quotas, Fishing methods. Licences/Permits, Education Programs, Aquaculture
   • Responding to human Food Needs
   • Aquaculture/ Mariculture
   • Extensive Production Mariculture
   • Intensive Production Mariculture
   • Classification of Systems
   • Disease Management for Fisheries
8. Marine Resources and Sustainability
   • What is a Marine Protected Area
   • How are MPA's Used
   • The AICHI Biodiversity Targets
   • Marine Protected Area Agency Partnership
   • International Guidelines for Designating and Managing MPA's
   • Designating an MPA
   • Field Work
   • Analysis of Existing Resources
   • Conservation and Monitoring of MPAs
   • Working Outside Marine Protected Areas
   • Sustainable Development
   • Preserving Environments
   • Pollution Prevention
9. Technology
   • Introduction
   • Platforms in Oceanography
   • Ocean Robots and ROV's
   • Satellites
   • Biodiversity
   • Other Devices
   • Digital Photography
   • High Tech Tagging
   • Biotech - DNA Barcoding and Phylogenetic Analysis
   • Microarray
   • SNP array
   • Removal of Ocean Debris and Human Waste
   • Broad Considerations in Marine Research
10. Data in Marine Management
    • Introduction
    • Ethics in Data
    • Principles of Measurement
    • Variables
    • Measurement Scales
    • Measurement Error
    • Bias and Consistency
    • Making Observations
    • Developing skills in observation
    • Samples and Sampling
    • Choosing a basic method of sampling
    • Using Statistics to Analyse Probability
    • Probability Parameters
    • P-Values
    • Statistics show Relationship
    • Knowing what to Ask about Data - Question types

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Aims

• Discuss marine environments and ecology in broad and general terms.
• Describe biodiversity and interrelationships in different marine environments.
• Determine the significance of, and interplay between, environmental factors in marine environments.
• Explain the impact of climate change and other anthropogenic pressures, and measures needed to mitigate these impacts.
• Determine ways of restoring damaged marine environments
• Explain the management of threatened marine species.
• Describe how marine experts work to manage and maintain ecological homeostasis.
• Describe marine resources and explain how sustainability initiatives are implemented.
• Apply different technologies for improved management of marine environments.
• Explain issues of data management and develop critical knowledge of how digitalisation is integrated into marine management.

What are Marine Ecosystems?

Marine ecosystems are communities that include both living and non-living things in marine locations.
They are geographically divided into five main areas - the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic, and Southern (Antarctic) Oceans. Throughout these geographical areas, you can find a wide range of diverse aquatic ecosystems such as reefs, estuaries, salt marshes, rocky shores, kelp forests, seagrass meadows, tundra,  open oceans and deep oceans. 

Marine life extends both above the ocean as much as below. Many birds for example are active members of marine ecosystems, both in the wider ocean (e.g., the albatross, penguins) and coastal waters. 

Managing Marine Environments

There are many challenges to managing marine environments. The following are just a few of many touched on in this course.

Responding to Ecotoxicology

Pesticides and other contaminants are being released into waterways. Consider industry and manufacturing processes. The word ecotoxicology is a mix of ecology, toxicology, biology, physiology and chemistry. Ecotoxicology is not another word for pollution. Instead, it generally refers to the effects from plastics and pollution. We can see how ecotoxicology has become prevalent in studies which look at consumption of heavy metals or plastics in the food chain. Fish and aquatic sources of food, consume various forms of toxic substances as they enter their environment. This then enters their tissues and eventually quantities of these substances make their way through the food chain. It has been studied and is generally accepted that that plastics (specifically microplastics) can have hormonal effects and have now been linked to the reproduction cycles in animals (genetic damage has also been reported in some species). Reducing toxins in marine habitats is on the agenda of many environmental conversation organisations. 

Reducing Eutrophication

Eutrophication is accelerated algal growth due to nutrient influx. This often results from significant sources of pollution such as run-off, wastes from fish farms or treated sewerage being expelled into water sources. Excessive amounts of the nutrients lead to problems in enclosed areas due to the triggering of algal blooms. Such blooms are often responsible for cutting out light entirely, as the bloom covers the surface of the water body, they also raise turbidity and some cases algae is toxic. 
Disruption of the ecosystem continues as the organic debris from the algae eventually sinks to the bottom, it is broken down by bacteria. The bacteria use the available in the process and the result is an anoxic zone. 

Reducing Coastal Erosion

Erosion is often thought of as a land problem, though it is also a marine problem. When the coastline begins to erode, it carries pollution into the ecosystem. It also introduces high amounts of sediment which can overwhelm the ecosystem and coat or smother organisms in coastal areas. 
Note: changes in coastal areas and ecosystems, such as mangroves and estuaries, can also affect gas exchange and nutrients in the water. Many coastal areas are vital nurseries for marine life; when the coastline is eroded, such nurseries and hatcheries are lost, resulting in declining and populations and potentially species loss.

Flood Prevention

Protecting a habitat from flooding is critical in preserving its natural state. Although this is less tightly aligned with practice and principles of restoration, it is still a critical consideration for those working in management of marine habitats. Floods – significant floods – can create an unnatural movement of organisms from one location to another. Although the immediate effect of flooding appears catastrophic, the less obvious effects - such as the introduction of an invasive (or foreign) species into an ecosystem - has the potential to be as equally damaging over a longer term. Additionally, invasive species are not easily removed either. 

Who is this Course for?

• Boat owners, divers, fishermen, anyone working in marine industries
• Environmental professionals
• Conservationists, coastal dwellers
• Biologists, scientists, environmental researchers, climate professionals
• Students, teachers, media professionals or anyone else with an interest or passion for this subject.

Why this Course?

• Professional development 
• A foundation in a subject you need or want to learn about.
• It's your passion
• Knowing more ways to protect the environment
• Improving your career / work prospects