Download Tropical Marine Ecology

TROPICAL MARINE ECOLOGY
Instructors:
Volker Koch, Ph.D. - Director of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF)
Margarita Brandt, Ph.D. - Postdoctoral researcher, Brown University
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
a) Dynamics of marine populations (Volker Koch, Ph.D.) (Week 1)
The course will focus on the dynamics that drive population fluctuations of marine
species, including several intertidal and subtidal species that are being exploited by the
local fishing sector of the Galapagos Islands. This course will have a strong component
of fieldwork, data management and modeling.
Students will learn the different processes that influence abundance of populations over
time (Growth, Mortality, Reproduction), and the factors that influence these processes.
They will also learn how to apply these concepts to fisheries stock assessments,
calculate traditional models to predict maximum sustainable yield and estimate the
impacts of fishing on population dynamics, food web structure and ecosystem function.
Galapagos fisheries have been notoriously hard to manage and towards the end of the
course, possible strategies and management actions will be discussed to secure the
long-term sustainable use of these resources.
b) Marine Community Ecology (Margarita Brandt, Ph.D.) (Weeks 2 and 3)
Students will learn about the properties of marine communities and about the processes
that affect the patterns of abundance and distribution of marine biodiversity. To
accomplish this, we will focus on the primary literature. This will introduce the students
to the most important topics in marine ecology. In addition, we will critique the current
literature. Supplemental readings will be assigned to each class member. For each
reading, one or two class members will present a short (5-10 min) discussion of their
specific reading assignment and stimulate the discussion. Our readings will be focused
on rocky shores, rocky subtidal communities, coral reefs, mangroves, seamounts and
hydrothermal vents.
Finally, this class will have a strong experimental component in the field and in the lab
to understand how the processes affect the structure and function of marine
communities. Students are required to choose a research project to observe the
processes that affect marine biodiversity such as predation, herbivory, temperature and
nutrient levels.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
a) Dynamics of marine populations
1. Understand the principles of population dynamics, how the processes of growth,
mortality and reproduction cause changes in abundance over time, and the
factors that influence these processes.
2. Understand how fisheries affect population dynamics, and apply simple fisheries
models to calculate Maximum Sustainable Yield, and Yield per Recruit.
3. Analyze the impacts of fishing on the exploited population, marine communities
and food webs, and ecosystem function in general.
4. Understand the problems related to fisheries management in Galapagos, and the
possible solutions for a sustainable long-term exploitation.
b) Marine Community Ecology
1. Gain a broad understanding of the relevant processes and properties of marine
communities in the Galápagos Islands.
2. Empower students to do science and think independently over a short period.
3. Teach students to be synthesizers and critical thinkers.
4. Teach students to effectively convey their scientific thoughts and analyses in
writing and oral presentations.
5. Teach students how to do science based on original observations in nature.
EVALUATION:
a) Dynamics of marine populations
• Participation in class and in the field (5 points)
• Scientific proposal (10 points)
• You are expected to write a proposal to study some aspect of the biological
dynamics or the fishing impacts of one of the species that are being
commercially exploited in San Cristobal (chitons, octopuses, lobsters, whelks,
tunas, wahoos)
• Homework (10 points)
• Proposal presentation (5 points)
• Exam (10 points)
b) Marine Community Ecology
• Daily presentations of assigned articles (10 points)
• Participation in class/lab/field (10 points)
• Research proposal (10 points)
• Presentation of research project (10 points)
• Exam (20 points, 10 each)
COURSE PROGRAMME:
TOPIC
DATE
Dynamics of marine populations
DAY
1
DAY
2
DAY
3
DAY
4
DAY
5
DAY
6
DAY
7
DAY
8
DAY
9
DAY
10
DAY
11
DAY
12
DAY
13
DAY
14
Introduction to Population dynamics: Growth, Mortality,
Reproduction/Recruitment.
- How do environmental/biological factors influence these processes?
Introduction to Marine fisheries, different types of fisheries, historical
development, future prospects.
- How do fisheries influence population dynamics of exploited species?
- Single species stock assessment
- Multispecies assessment – Ecosystem approaches
- Data requirements, benefits and limits of different approaches
- Direct and indirect effects of fishing on population, communities and
ecosystems
Management of fisheries in the Galapagos Islands
Final exam
Marine Community Ecology
Physical constrains of the environment
Consumer-driven patterns
Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning
Larval ecology / supply-side ecology
Genetic structure / Exam 1
Proposals due / Rocky shores
Rocky subtidal communities
Coral reefs / Mangroves
Sea Mounts / Hydrothermal vents
DAY
Exam 2, Research Project Presentations
15
Textbook:
Bertness MD, Gaines SD, Hay ME. 2001. Marine Community Ecology. Sinauer Associates, Inc.
Sunderland, MA, USA, 560 pp.
COURSE POLITICS:
All students of this course respond to the code of honor of Universidad San Francisco de Quito.
Observe and respect all the regulations of the Galapagos National Park. Honesty and respect
within all persons and to wildlife as well as respect to the Campus and its regulations are
mandatory. Disrespect of the code of honor of USFQ or any other regulations will be sanctioned
by the corresponding authorities and could result in the loss of this course.
Grading scale:
Grade
Qualification Consideration Points
90 – 100%
A
Excellent
4
80-89%
B
Good
3
70-79%
C
Intermediate
2
60-69%
D
Deficient
1
-59%
F
Failed
0
About electronic equipment
Cell phones, I pods/pads and other devices have to be switched off in class.
Attendance:
Come to class on time.
Excursions:
Excursions are mandatory. In the case of disease or any other justified cause, students can
be relieved from the excursion and cover the qualification with additional tasks. At any site in
the Galapagos, the National Park rules have to be accepted. Animals are not to be approached,
handled or scared off.
MATERIALS:
For excursions ALWAYS bring slates for field notes, snorkeling gear, camera, id guides.