Content, progress and pedagogy of the module

Learning objectives

Knowledge

• On marine ecosystems.
• On theory for physical, chemical and microbial processes in marine systems.
• On the most common types of marine pollution.

Skills

• To understand the exchange of matter between aquatic and terrestrial environments.
• To describe the marine ecosystem, light, salinity and temperature.
• To understand primary production, respiration and re-oxidation.
• To analyse microbial loops, food webs, turnover of C-N-S and P in aquatic environments.
• To analyse impacts on different marine compartments, e.g. water, sediments, biota.
• To analyse marine sediments.
• To distinguish pollution impacts on individuals, populations and communities.
• To evaluate man-made pollutants (xenobiotics, microplastics), metals and disease-causing microorganisms (pathogens) in marine waters.
• To assess recreational and bathing water quality and related faecal pollution source tracking.
• To understand the basic concepts of the legal framework regulating marine pollution (marine governance)

Competences

• Analyse the fate of nutrients in coastal marine ecosystem.
• Describe important organic and inorganic pollutants and pollution effects in coastal marine waters.
• Evaluate methods to prevent and alleviate antropogenic pollution in coastal marine waters evaluate meth.

Type of instruction

Lectures, etc. supplemented with project work, workshops, presentation seminars, lab tests.

Extent and expected workload

Since it is a 5 ECTS project module, the workload is expected to be 150 hours for the student.

Exam

Exams