BIO-3506 Top predators in polar marine ecosystems: Biology, Role and Management implications - 10 stp

The course is aimed at students enrolled in the master’s program in biology and exchange students with similar background.

Mandatory prerequisites: minimum 10 ECTS in ecology (BIO-2017 or equivalent) and statistics (BIO-2004 or equivalent).

The course will only run if a minimum of 5 students are registered by the start date.

The course will be offered in the spring semester every other year.

Through lectures, seminars, and computer labs, the objective of the course is to provide an overview of and insight into the biology, ecology, and management of marine top predators in polar ecosystems with strong emphasis on marine mammals. There will be particular emphasis on the ecological importance of these marine top predators in relation to ecosystem-based approach to species management in polar environments.

The lectures and seminars will provide theoretical background on the physiology, feeding behavior, social structure, demography, and reproduction of selected species with examples from Arctic and Antarctic ecosystems. The course will also review the anthropogenic threats (e.g., climate change, pollution, fisheries, etc.) that marine top predators are facing and how science-based knowledge can be used by policy makers for a sustainable management of polar ecosystems. During computer/data labs, students will learn how to extract, analyse, and interpret tracking data. In addition, some practical experience in the field might be organized. Field activities will provide students with hands-on experience and will introduce field methodologies for monitoring marine top predators (e.g., line transect surveys of marine mammals from boat, behavioural observations of marine mammals, bird census).

Topics include:

- Demography - life history

- Physiology of Arctic animals

- Fish and other top predators

- Research in captivity and ethics

- Spatial ecology

- Ecophysiology/stress ecology

- Zoonosis

- Food web approach to the role of top predators

- Biophysical interactions

- Chemical and physical pollution

- Climate change

- Fisheries and bycatch

- Top predators as a resource

- Top predator’s impact assessment- sustainability

- Abundance estimation

- Management-legal aspects

Knowledge

Students

• have in-depth knowledge of the biology, physiology and ecology of polar marine top predators
• have advanced knowledge of the ecological role of top predators in polar marine ecosystems
• have thorough understanding of the population dynamics and spatial ecology of top predator species
• can explain the consumption and feeding ecology of top predators in relation to their energetics
• can identify the anthropogenic pressures on marine top predators (climate change, marine pollution, harvest, fisheries etc.)
• can outline and assess the methodologies for monitoring marine top predators in polar regions
• have solid understanding of the ecosystem-based approach to marine top predators’ management and principles of Arctic governance

Skills

Students

• can understand and critically reflect on literature about the ecological role of polar marine top predators
• can evaluate and discuss scientific topics related to the ecosystem-based approach to species management
• can reproduce and implement relevant study designs
• can extract, analyze, and interpret tagging data in the lab

General competence

Students

• have a holistic understanding of the ecological role of top predators in polar environments
• can integrate knowledge of legal, regulatory and ethical considerations relating to ecosystem-based management within the broader societal context
• can work independently with scientific literature and exert their critical thinking by combining information and discussing ecosystem-based management data with their peers (through group activities and student-active learning activities during lectures/seminars)
• develop scientific writing and oral skills by communicating scientific knowledge concisely, both orally and in writing
• can implement ecosystem-based approaches to species management

Language of instruction is English.

The written exam will be in English and answers can be written in English or a Scandinavian language. The oral exam and the lab report are in English.