BIO-3516 Food-webs and fisheries - 10 stp

The course deals with how food-web models can be used to analyse topics of interest for fishery and ecosystem management. Lessons will give an overview of approaches and models used in fisheries management with emphasis on multispecies models. Local, regional and global perspectives on model strategies will be presented. We will describe principles regarding ecosystem services and resilience of ecosystems. In the course, we will use a food-web model system, Ecopath with Ecosim and Ecospace (EwE) and present the model principles. The students will learn guidance principles on how to incorporate information on input data and parameters to EwE, as well as  principles for parametrising dynamic models and analyse and report uncertainty. 

In data lab exercises, we will apply EwE with hands-on training and construct food-web models. "Snap-shot" Ecopath models will be converted to dynamic models and fitted to observed time-series of biomasses and catches and forced by biological and physical variables. Exercises also include using a spatial module, Ecospace, targeting analysis of spatial effects of management actions such as Marine protected areas. 

In a supervised term paper project, a quantitative objective will be analysed using a model ending with a written report and an oral presentation.

Concerns only admission to singular courses: Applicants from Nordic countries: 1 June for the autumn semester and 1 December for the spring semester.

Exchange students and Fulbright students: 1 October for the spring semester and 15 April for the autumn semester.

Local admission, application code 9371 -  Master`s level singular course.

Admission requires a Bachelor`s degree (180 ECTS) or equivalent qualification, with a major in biology of minimum 80 ECTS.  

A candidate who has completed the course should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence: 

Knowledge about: 

• Fisheries management principles, ecosystem based management and ecosystem services  
• Approaches and models used in fisheries assessment and ecosystem management 
• Harvesting strategies and their potential effects on ecosystems 
• Food-web model principles 
• How to read, discuss and present scientific data and models 
• Ecosystem resilience and resistance 

Skills, the candidate should be able to: 

• Incorporate information on food-consumption, growth and predation in a mass-balance model 
• Build a mass-balance food-web model 
• Convert a snap-shot mass-balance model to a dynamic Ecosystem model 
• Use historical data and fit food-web models to observed time-series 
• Use biological and physical drivers to force a dynamic food-web model 
• Test effects of various harvesting strategies in a dynamic food-web model 
• Use a spatial ecosystem model and test effects of spatial management actions (e.g Marine protected areas)  
• Be able to give advice about how effects of food-web interactions should be taken in consideration in ecosystem management  
• Analyse uncertainty by Monte Carlo simulations and report results from model output including measures of uncertainty 
• Orally describe and discuss the topics above 
• Explain and discuss orally themes related to food-web models and fisheries 
• Write a term paper describing the use of a quantitative model to analyse an objective  
• Keep an oral presentation presenting a term paper 

General competence: 

• Can demonstrate a broad insight in scientific basis for ecosystem management 
• Can communicate academic issues and analyses regarding ecosystem management and fisheries  
• Demonstrate knowledge of the IMRAD system for scientific reporting

Term paper (40%) and oral exam (60%). A graded scale of five marks from A to E for pass and F for fail. 

Work requirement: Oral presentation of term paper.

Re-sit exam:

In the case a re-scheduled examination is arranged for students with legitimate absence, students who did not pass the ordinary examination can gain access to a re-sit examination.

New examination attempt:

Students who wish to make another examination attempt may keep their grade for the term paper.

The date for the exam can be changed. The final date will be announced at your faculty early in May and early in November.