MB3200:03
Marine Conservation Biology
Townsville
Prerequisites: MB2060 recommended
Inadmissable Subject Combination: MB5004
26 lectures, 13 tutorials, 4 hours practicals. Second semester.
Staff: Dr G Jones.
An ecological approach to human impacts on and conservation of marine habitats and species, with a tropical emphasis. It will describe the ecological effects of overfishing, nutrient enrichment, habitat loss, pollution and marine introductions. The subject will examine the meanings of the terms ‘rare’ and ‘endangered’ for marine organisms and the threat of extinction. Current practices employed in the conservation and management of marine habitats and endangered marine species will be debated. A central focus will be the ecological principles and practice of designing marine reserves, enhancing populations of rare species and restoring damaged biological communities. Tutorials and an on-line chat room will facilitate the debate of all current issues in marine conservation.
Learning Objectives:
- acquire a knowledge of the current understanding of human impacts on and conservation of different types of marine organisms;
- to develop verbal, written and on-line skills in debating marine conservation issues;
- acquire an understanding of the basic methodologies of impact assessment and conservation research.
Assessment by final examination (50%); assignments (total) (50%), being a statuss report (20%); sampling exercise (15%); tutorial (15%).