BSM3530 - MANAGEMENT IN PRACTICE - COASTAL, ESTUARINE AND WETLANDS

Module Identifier

BSM3530

Module Title

MANAGEMENT IN PRACTICE - COASTAL, ESTUARINE AND WETLANDS

Academic Year

2006/2007

Co-ordinator

Dr Joanne S Porter

Semester

Semester 2

Other staff

Dr Joanne S Porter, Dr Helen Marshall, Dr John D Fish

Assessment

Assessment Type	Assessment Length/Details	Proportion
Semester Assessment	Temperate Field Trip Individual Report	50%
Semester Assessment	Tropical Firld Trip Individual Report	50%

Learning outcomes

The role of this module is to provide students with an understanding of the issues involved in the sustainable management of coastal, estuarine and wetland ecosystems. Training will be provided in the methods of sampling, data analysis and interpretation of information suitable for the development, implementation and monitoring of different management strategies, in both tropical and temperate latitudes.

Students are expected to:

identify the main organisms associated with different temperate ecosystems
identify the management issues in temperate ecosystems
determine the appropriate sampling technique for a range of temperate aquatic ecosystems
determine the appropriate data analyses for different biological and environmental datasets
perform biological surveys of temperate aquatic habitats and populations
analyse community and environmental data using multivariate analysis
demonstrate an ability to analyse and interpret biological data
conduct literature surveys

Brief description

Addressing management problems and developing strategies suitable for managing the environment requires knowledge of the different sampling strategies, data collection techniques and analysis available for a particular habitat. This module will introduce students to the management of tropical coastal, estuarine and wetland ecosystems through the development of existing skills applied in a management context.

The tropical element of this course will consider the ecology of a number if ecosystems including intertidal areas, wetland and estuaries. Students will be introduced to the ecology of these environments including the anthropogenic threats they face, e.g. pollution, climate change and tourism.

Emphasis will be placed on management strategies (e.g. stakeholder concepts and no-take zones) and practical skills will be developed to sample effectively these different habitats. Students will learn the appropiate sampling methodology to address and answer different biological and ecological questions needed to manage effectively tropical marine environments. The integrated nature of these different ecosystems will be stressed.

The temperate component of the module will consider sampling strategies in subtidal and intertidal ecosystems. Students will be trained in common sampling techniques and strategies with the emphasis on how these tools can be used to develop, implement and monitor management strategies (e.g. Special Areas of Conservation and reserve management). These will include the use of recently developed techniques and advances in technology including biotype mapping, seabed mapping and photographis techniques used in the long-term development of existing skills in traditional sampling methodologies.

The field course will be supported by an introduction to the specialised analysis methods to deal with the types of community data that will be generated from sampling these different environments. Students will be shown how this information can be used to formulate managment plans and monitor marine communities, including assessing the impacts of habitat loss, pollution and climatic change. Throughout the course attention will be drawn to the multiple demands placed on different aquatic ecosystems by different fisheries, conservation and recreational groups, leading to the complex development of regional, national and global management plans.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 7