BIO405 Pollution of Costal and Marine Ecosystems
- ECTS Credits:
- 5
- Responsible department:
- Faculty of Engineering and Science
- Course Leader:
- Marta Moyano Garcia de La Banda
- Lecture Semester:
- Autumn
- Teaching language:
- Norwegian/English
- Duration:
- 1 term
The course is connected to the following study programs
Teaching language
Norwegian/EnglishCourse contents
The course focuses on the sources of marine pollution of coastal ecosystems. The uniqueness of coastal ecosystems in relation to the interaction between oceanographic, physico-chemical and biological processes will be highlighted. Putative risks and effects associated to the disturbances of this balance by e.g. increase in nutrients, carbon (CO2), dissolved organic carbon, heavy metals, persistent organics, plastics etc. will be discussed. A greater scientific overview and understanding of the coastal ecosystems is needed to develop sustainable management strategies of our renewable coastal resources.
Learning outcomes
After completing the course, the students
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understand processes behind and effects of discharges from urban and rural areas, eutrophication, sea acidification and coastal water browning
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will be able to identify the sources of marine pollution and propose an action plan to mitigate the effects on coastal communities and the environment
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can contribute in discussions of coastal pollution from industry; metals, organic contaminants, plastics etc. and possible restauration methods
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can compile and analyze data to produce scientific reports that assess the quality of the coastal environmentwill be familiar with national and international regulations concerning marine pollution
Examination requirements
Compulsory attendance to field and laboratoryexercises including approval of reports.
More information about the report(s) and the laboratory and field exercises is given in Canvas by the start of the semester.
Teaching methods
Instruction is provided in the form of lectures, seminars and compulsory laboratory exercises and fieldwork. Instruction will be given in English, but if only Norwegian-speaking students attend, the teaching language will be in Norwegian. Information will be given in Canvas at the start of the course.
Estimated student workload in this course is 135 hours.
Evaluation
The person responsible for the course, in consultation with the student representative, decides the method of evaluation and whether the courses will have a midterm- or end of term evaluation, see also the Quality System, section 4.1. Information about evaluation method for the course will be posted on Canvas.
Assessment methods and criteria
3-hour written individual examination. Graded assessment A-F.