MASC 435: Marine Ecology

The nature and global distribution of marine organisms and habitats. Ecological concepts. Primary and secondary production in the ocean. Measurement of productivity. Trophic interactions and flows of material and energy in marine food webs. Plankton communities: larval ecology, Life history strategies (r- and K-selection) and population dynamics. Intertidal environment: physical factors, biological patterns, adaptations of intertidal organisms; Biological interactions (Competition, predation and patch dynamics). Ecological methods: quantifying physical patterns; behaviour; biological patterns.  Anthropogenic impacts on the ocean.