Marine and Freshwater Biology

University of Stirling

A clear grasp of the foundational principles of genetics and evolution is critical for understanding and appreciating all biological processes and the complexity and diversity of the living world. Consequently, these principles have indispensable applications for health, agriculture, and conservation of biodiversity. In this module, you will learn the fundamentals of genetics and evolution: How mechanisms of heredity and evolution affect populations and biodiversity; Principles of transmission and population genetics; Genetic and evolutionary inference from experimental results; Practical skills in molecular biology, genetics, and evolution; By developing an understanding of the most important ideas underlying genetics and evolutionary theory, you will be better prepared to further investigate and apply these ideas to globally important problems. The UN has defined 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which set out the world's roadmap to ending poverty, reducing inequality, and protecting the planet by 2030. This module has particular relevance for Good Health and Well Being (SDG 3), Life Below Water (SDG 14), and Life on Land (SDG 15).

Aquatic systems have high importance for biodiversity, but are increasingly impacted by human activities. In this module, you will explore freshwater and marine environments, considering physical and chemical processes, and appreciating how they affect aquatic organisms. You will further learn about functional ecological groups and their interactions within food webs, Finally, you will study energy flow and nutrient cycling in aquatic systems, and how this relates to key geochemical cycles.

This is a core second year module providing the fundamental concepts of chemistry and physics that are essential for laboratory skills. This module aims to provide you with the elementary laboratory skills that are required to pursue subsequent advanced modules and the theory behind many of the techniques and tools that the natural sciences use. In this module you will gain: ? Practical skills: follow written procedures that involve the management and pursuit of a diverse range of common laboratory tasks so as to achieve a successful outcome ? Laboratory safety skills: assessment of hazards and minimising risks when working in a laboratory. ? Arithmetic skills: data collection and its subsequent analysis. ? Written communication skills: directed data presentation. ? Information retrieval skills: appreciation and use of the resources available in the University library. In this module, you will also have acces to virtual simulations that will allow you to complete laboratory activities online. The UN has defined 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which set out the world's roadmap to ending poverty, reducing inequality, and protecting the planet by 2030. Addressing any of these SDGs will rely on some data collection and analysis, meaning that the skills you learn in this module are potentially relevant for all of them.

Statistical techniques are fundamental for addressing quantitative questions and making inferences from data. Consequently, statistical tools are indispensable for addressing questions across the natural and social sciences. In this module, you will learn the following important skills for working with environmental and biological datasets: * How to manipulate datasets and characterise their statistical properties * Understanding and applying null hypothesis testing * Applying the correct statistical test to data using statistical software * Interpreting the results of statistical tests to make conclusions about scientific problems By developing an understanding of statistics, you will become better able to critically evaluate the scientific literature and conduct scientific research. Because literacy in statistics and a proficiency in using statistical software is critical for addressing all data-driven investigations, the skills that you learn in this module will be broadly relevant to solving a broad range of important problems. The UN has defined 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which set out the world's roadmap to ending poverty, reducing inequality, and protecting the planet by 2030. Addressing any of these SDGs will rely on some data collection and analysis, meaning that the skills you learn in this module are potentially relevant for all of them.

This module provides an introduction to aquaculture, which is now responsible for the production of at least half of the aquatic food products in the world today, and is forecast to continue to grow to help meet the demand of the growing human population for food and other products from the aquatic environment. This module is intended to continue and build on the themes introduced to you in AQUU3AE (Introduction to Aquatic Environments) and AQUU5LR (Management of Living Aquatic Resources).

The Changing Oceans module aims to provide you with a clear and concise appreciation and understanding of the major marine habitats, from those in the intertidal areas to the very deepest parts of our oceans, and from the frozen seas to those in the tropics and sub-tropics. It provides an understanding of the complex inter-relationships between marine animals, plants and microorganisms and the physical, chemical and biological nature of these distinct habitats. The module will critically examine major risks affecting these species and habitats at present and in the future.

The aquatic environment contains a fascinating array of living organisms, many of which provide valuable resources to humankind. This module aims to understand the diversity of our oceans and freshwaters with an aim to understanding how we can properly manage activities in these environments. The content of this course is sub-divided into two themes. Biology and Ecology of Living Aquatic Resources - This theme of the course will introduce the details of some important aquatic organisms, why they are of value to us, why they are vulnerable to our activities. This theme includes lectures and online lab sessions on fish, crustaceans and molluscs. How Science Helps us Manage Impacts on Living Aquatic Resources - This theme of the course will look at how people exploit living aquatic resources, the issues involved with this and how scientists measure our impacts and inform management decisions to maximise sustainable exploitation and mitigate our negative impacts. This theme includes lectures, a virtual field visit and workshops on fisheries, aquaculture, recreation, water quality, and livelihoods.

In this course we will investigate in detail quantitative aspects of intertidal ecology for both rocky and sedimentary environments and the interactions between organisms and environmental parameters. Methodological efficiency and appropriateness is also assessed for the two environments. This is achieved though specific data collection and data analyses activities completed during this module.This module is an intensive field course, taught each day, all day over a continuous period of 6 working days; though the facilities are available for longer if required.

The module investigates the taxonomy and systematics of marine organisms. In so doing, it develops the ideas around the differences between marine species and groups, and where to place them in the phylogenetic tree. You will be taught the major features of main plant and animal groups within the marine environment, and you will be able to identify and describe them to species level using taxonomic text and morphological features. The major groupings that will be assessed through the module will include: seaweeds, fish, molluscs, crustacean, polychaetes, echinoderms, cnidarians, tunicates, and sipunculans. Differences will be evaluated through sophisticated microscopy techniques and computerised technology. You will also be taught key genetic techniques that are used to assess genetic differences at the individual and population level.

Marine Biology is a comprehensive branch of study, showing overlap with multiple disciplines. In this module, you will integrate all the learning undertaken in the Marine Biology BSc Hons degree programme. You will further learn to use scientific databases to synthesise the current knowledge in a specific area of interest. By completing this module, you will perfect your skills to write in an acceptable scientific style and communicate in oral presentations.

The last year of your four-year degree will be largely dedicated to your research project of a subject that you will be able to develop with one of your academic staff. In semester 7 of the fourth year, you will complete the first part of your honours project in the form of a detailed literature review and project plan. In semester 8, you will work full time on the research element of their project with you project supervisors. During this period, you can be off campus.