Marine ecosystems play a central role in the health and function of our planet. This course examines the key ecological processes that shape and maintain marine communities, and how healthy marine ecosystems may be maintained against a background of human harvesting, habitat modification and rapid climate change. Topics to be covered will include: biogeochemical cycling and productivity, marine population and community ecology, biogeography, connectivity, sustainable management and conservation. Critical evaluation of marine ecological theory will be emphasised, with students gaining first-hand experience in the quantitative methods used to describe and assess marine communities.

BIOL2112. Recommended EMSC1006.