BT2240:03
Marine Plants in their Environments
| Townsville | HECS Band 2 |
24 hours lectures, 28 hours practicals, 2 half-day field trips. Semester 2.
Staff: Dr K Heimann.
An examination of the enormous diversity of marine plants — from unicellular microscopic organisms to mangrove forests. This subject will explore micro- and macroalgae, reef ecosystems, seagrasses, samphires (salt marshes) and mangroves; and life strategies such as symbioses, epiphytes and the movement of marine plants through their environment. Special emphases will be placed on commercial potential and uses of marine plants, down-stream biological effects of anthropogenic activities on marine plant communities and using field studies to illustrate coursework topics.
Learning Objectives:
- to appreciate the diversity of marine plants;
- to understand the interaction of marine plants with the environment;
- to provide hand-on experience of techniques for sampling and analysing planktonic and benthic organisms;
- to develop an understanding of the roles of primary producers in marine environments.
Assessment by on-course assessment (50%); written examinations (50%).