This module aims to introduce students to the diversity of ecosystem types in the marine environment and the various threats that they face.

(LO1) Acquire knowledge and understanding of representative key ecosystems found in the marine environment.

(LO2) Be familiar with the marine organisms that live in representative key marine ecosystems.

(LO3) Acquire a basic knowledge of fundamental ecological principles, transferable to later marine and non-marine modules.

(LO4) Be aware of the threats that humans may pose to marine ecosystems.

(LO5) Appreciate how humans assess and may mitigate detrimental impacts to the environment.

(LO6) Be introduced to the importance to their future studies of critical reading of scientific literature.

Students will be introduced to the major groups of marine ecosystems and knowledge and understanding of processes in different marine ecosystems will develop through watching the e-lectures and attending workshops. The e-lectures are not time-tabled and must be watched in the student's own time as part of their self-directed learning. In each week a new ecosystem will be presented, with key concepts about the main organisms, processes and key threats developed through the e-lectures and workshops. Example ecosystems may include:
Rocky intertidal ecosystems, pelagic ecosystems, salt marshes, coral reefs, polar regions, upwelling regions, the deep sea, mangroves, shelf seas, shallow subtidal ecosystems e.g. kelp forests

Key learning resources including recommended reading will be available electronically and via the library will be available on the VLE (virtual learning environment) under reading lists. A blended learning approach will be used to direct stude nts to essential resources through the VLE, E-lectures, and workshops.

Students are expected to have watched the E-lectures related to the workshops prior to the workshops. There will be some preparation required for activities in each workshop, which students will be advised of in advance through the VLE. Workshop sessions will last for 90 minutes during this time students can ask any questions that they have related to the content delivered in the E-lectures.

Teaching Method 1 - Asynchronous online lectures
Description: These will consist of three topics for each ecosystem:
1. Diversity
2. Processes
3. Threats

Each topic may consist of 1 or more mini-lectures to be viewed in asynchronously in your own time. You must watch the lectures for each ecosystem prior to the workshop.

Teaching Method 2 - Synchronous Discussion Workshops
Description: Each week a research article related to a threat posed to an ecosystem will be set for reading. During the workshop you will discuss the research article in small groups guided by academics and demonstrators.
Attendance Recorded: Yes

Teaching Method 3 - Synchronous infographic group project workshops
Description: Bi-weekly synchronous workshops to provide assistance and guidance with the infographic group project assessment.
Attendance Recorded: Yes

Learning Method 1 - Self-directed learning
Reading, and synthesis of taught material (via VLE or in person)

Learning Method 2 - Group Project
This assessed piece of work will give students the opportunity to work together and consolidate their learning as a team. Students will enhance their digital fluency through this project.

Learning Method 3 - Enquiry based learning
Students will read and think about the research article set for each ecosystem workshop