NBIK15020U Marine Faunistics: biology and systematics of marine fish and invertebrates

Knowledge

This course gives the participants a broad knowledge about collection methods and identification of Danish marine fishes and benthic and pelagic invertebrater. Provides competences in the morphology, biology and taxonomy of relevant marine animals. The course provides an obvious opportunity for practical use of theoretical knowledge achieved during the BSc courses and MSc courses Marine Biology, Animal morphology and Danish Fauna – Vertebrates.

Skills

By the end of the course the students are expected to have achieved the following skills:

• Describe the morphology, biology and taxonomy of the larger groups of marine animal and relate it to both evolution and environment (habitat).

• Identify Danish Marine fishes and species in the major, marine benthic invertebrate groups. 

• Overall knowledge about the phylogeny and evolution of the major groups of marine animals  

• Use techniques for collection and identification of marine meiofauna

• Use techniques for collection and identification of holo- and meroplankton.

Competences

By the end of the course the students are expected to have achieved the following Competences:

• Relate the occurrence and composition of a specific benthic fauna to function, evolution and habitat

• Be able to choose the optimal collection devise for a given type of bottom for a faunistic survey.

• Be able to differentiate between gear used for qualitative and quantitative purposes and to perform a critical evaluation of the limits and benefits when making results and conclusions.

• Plan and perform a quantitative bottom fauna investigation, including analysis and discussion of the results.