Høst 2024

BIO-3015 Arctic Marine System Ecology and Climate Change - 10 stp

The course is administrated by

Institutt for arktisk og marin biologi

Type of course

Master course for biology students - principally aimed at MSc-students specializing in Arctic Marine Ecology.

The course is available as a singular course.

Course overlap

BIO-8020 Arctic Marine System Ecology and Climate Change 10 ects

Course contents

The course provides an introduction to marine system ecology and climate change in the Arctic Ocean including its coasts, shelf seas and central basins. The course first describes the physical oceanography of the Arctic Ocean and adjacent seas,its ice cover, land-ocean interactions and how climate change alters those. The course then introduces biological communities and key organisms, life history strategies, habitats and ecosystems of the marine Arctic. Coupling between biological communities and habitats are discussed with respect to vertical carbon flux, energy flow and in terms of how physical processes determine the conditions for biota and their productivity, today and in the near future. Students will be introduced to a wide range of examples of system ecological response to current and changing climate in the Arctic Ocean, ranging from microbial organisms to marine mammals, and including biogeochemical cycles. In addition, management regimes in the Arctic are briefly touched on. The course is taught by many lecturers who have their research focus in the topic they lecture on.

Admission requirements

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

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

Objective of the course

Knowledge

be able to evaluate the physical environment in the Arctic Ocean with respect to hydrography, currents, and sea ice cover, and discuss the role of physical drivers for the Arctic marine ecosystem.
be familiar with the spatial and seasonal patterns of nutrient concentrations in high latitudes and be able to discuss changes in the nutrient availability in a warming Arctic.
be able to explain the significance of sea ice and debate the implication of sea ice cover changes to the biodiversity and carbon cycling in the Arctic.
be familiar with the basics of the microbial food web and its role in carbon cycling.
have insight into primary production in high latitudes and be able to explain how climate change may affect primary production.
develop an understanding of the habitat structure and biological communities in the sea ice, water column and at the seafloor of the Arctic seas, from microbes to mammals, and be able to evaluate how a warming Arctic impacts both habitat and communities.
be able to place important example species or functional groups into their ecological context.
be familiar with "life history strategies" and be able to discuss these for selected species.
understand the concepts of diel vertical migrations in the Arctic, and be familiar with factors regulating.
be able to understand and explain the role and regulation of vertical flux and other forms of cryo-pelagic-benthic coupling and evaluate how these processes may be impacted by climate change.
be able to explain the characteristics of mass flows in examples of Arctic ecosystems, and to elaborate on how external factors (e.g., invasive species, climate change) may change the mass flows.
be able to describe and explain in general fish distribution in the Arctic Ocean and potential future changes with regard to increasing ocean temperature and decreasing sea ice.
have an understanding of the role of marine mammal top-predators in sub-Arctic and Arctic ecosystems and be able to discuss potential changes in a warming Arctic.
be able to explain how energy flow through the Arctic ecosystem can be assessed.

Skills:

have the ability to evaluate and discuss scientific topics related to a variety of processes and dynamics in the Arctic marine environment.
be able to understand and critically reflect on literature about the Arctic ecosystem, as well as present this information orally (or in form for an essay, for PhD students).
be aware of and be able to discuss the current understanding how climate and anthropogenic impact can influence Arctic marine ecosystems.

General competence:

be able to work independently with scientific literature.
have refined the ability of critical thinking, e.g. by discussing course topics and scientific literature with lecturers and fellow students.
be able to integrate ecosystem knowledge by combining information from single studies of separate compartments and their couplings.
practice and improve the ability to work with fellow students through various group work activities during the seminars

Language of instruction

English

Teaching methods

Around 12 weeks of teaching. Typically two to three lectures (2x45 min) and one seminar (2x45 min) per week. Both lectures and in particular seminars focus on student-active learning and engagement. Seminars in particular are regularly using hands-on approaches and group work.