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) Introduction to and understand, 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 lectures and workshops. In each week a new ecosystem will be presented, with key concepts about the main organisms, processes and key threats presented through the lectures and workshops. Example ecosystems may include:
rocky intertidal ecosystems, shallow subtidal ecosystems, such as kelp forests, pelagic ecosystems, salt marshes, coral reefs, polar regions, upwelling regions, the deep sea, mangroves, shelf seas.

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 students to essential resources through the VLE, lectures, and workshops.

Students will need to attend and engage with lecture materials prior to the workshop s. There will be some preparation required for activities in each workshop, and students will be advised of this in advance through the VLE and during lectures.

This module uses a blended approach towards teaching and learning, split between in person lectures and workshops and directed online learning to consolidate knowledge, ensure that students meet the intended learning outcomes and develop their skill set.

Students will focus on a different marine ecosystem each week. During the in person lectures, students will learn about the diversity, processes and threats within each ecosystem. Students will be directed to key and recommended reading using readinglists@Liverpool on the VLE. At the end of each topic (ecosystem) students will participate in a weekly workshop where the threats to each ecosystem will be examined and discussed in detail in small groups guided by academics. Prior to each workshop students will be set an academic text (report, research article etc) to read available on the VLE, this text will form the basis of the discussion in the workshops. Workshops will develop students reading, critical thinking and discussio n skills.

There will be two workshops dedicated to the team infographic project. These workshops will introduce the assessment, effective teamwork, software for infographics and peer review. The peer review session will form part of the formative feedback for this module.

Students will develop several learning strategies through this module. They will engage in self-directed learning, reading and synthesis of taught material (via VLE and in person). They will develop enquiry based learning skills when they read and think about the set research article set for each ecosystem workshop. They will have the opportunity to learn collaboratively via the team project, consolidating their learning as a team, whilst enhance their digital fluency and team working skills through this project.