autumn 2021 BIO-3506 Top predators - 10 ECTS
Type of course
The course is reserved for students enrolled in聽master鈥檚 program and聽primarily for students aiming to take MSc in biology (marine ecology, fishery biology) or fishery science (fishery biology). Other students at聽幸运大转盘 with completed聽bachelor鈥檚 in biology聽and/or with relevant background in biology can also apply for attendance.聽The course is not available as a singular course.聽
There is limited number of places (16).聽If聽the number of applicants exceeds the number of places available, master students in biology from 幸运大转盘聽with highest number of biological credits聽will be prioritized.聽
Due to the excursion during summer, this course has a separate application deadline.聽Application deadline for the excursion: 15聽April.
Course content
Polar bears, seals, whales and seabirds are important components of marine ecosystems. BIO-3506 aims to give an overview of and insight into the biology, ecology, management and harvest of these top predators, primarily in Norwegian and adjacent waters. In addition, social structure, demography and reproduction of selected species will be reviewed. 聽
There will be particular emphasis on the feeding behavior and ecological importance of these marine top predators, both with examples from Norwegian and adjacent waters and from other ecosystems. Man-made influences (climate change, pollutants, fisheries, etc.) will also be discussed.
BIO- 3506 will be starting with an excursion to聽Vester氓len聽from Monday 21 June to Friday 25 June 2021. The field course is divided in three different parts:
- One day at sea (in聽Bleiksegga) to observe whales
- One day at the Anda island to study聽a聽seabird colony in the breeding season
- One day at聽St酶聽to study a聽harbour聽seal colony during breeding
The objective of the field course is to聽observe and collect data聽from聽sperm whales,聽harbour聽seals聽and numerous seabirds聽during feeding and聽breeding and聽write a聽field聽report. More specifically, the students will study the diving behavior of sperm whales, haul out behavior of聽harbour聽seals and life history characteristics of seabirds.聽
The rest of the teaching will consist of聽聽lectures in Troms酶 given during autumn. The course ends with an oral examination in December.聽
Assessment
Oral exam. A graded scale of five marks from A to E for pass and F for fail.
Coursework requirement:
Attend the excursion and write an excursion report - the report needs to be approved in order to do the exam.
Re-sit exam:
There will be a re-sit examination for students that did not pass the previous ordinary examination. 聽
- About the course
- Campus: Tromsø |
- ECTS: 10
- Course code: BIO-3506
- Responsible unit
- Institutt for arktisk og marin biologi