NBIK12010U Ecophysiology of Brackish Water Invertebrates

Volume 2013/2014
Education
MSc Programme in Biology
Content

The course focuses on physiological adaptations in brackish water invertebrates. The inner Danish waters together with the Baltic Sea are the largest brackish water area (estuary) in the world. The estuary is characterized by large and rapid fluctuations of environmental parameters (e.g., temperature, salinity, oxygen and hydrogen sulfide). The course is focusing on aerobic and anaerobic respiration, sulfide toxticity, osmo-, ion- and volume regulation.

Learning Outcome
By attending the course the student will achieve:

Knowledge:
The student can describe and reflect on how brackish water environments affect animals and how they physiologically cope with this very fluctuating environment. The student will be able to identify physiological processes and place them in a comprehensive overview.

Skills:
The student will be able to handle some standard equipment for physiological research and use experimental methods. The student can analyze and explain experimental results and put them into a scientific context.


Competencies:
The student has experience working independently with an experimental research project. The student can from theory design, initiate and manage an experimental study. The student can evaluate and put obtained results into a scientific perspective. The student has gained experience working in groups to solve scientific problems.
Literature
See Absalon.
Passed UC course in Marine Biology or equivalent.
Lectures and practical project work.
Undervisningssproget er dansk, eller engelsk såfremt ikke-skandinaviske studerende optages på kurset.
Kurset indgår i kompetenceprofilen Marinbiologi. For alle kurser på kompetenceprofilerne se Biologisk Instituts kursusportal.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Colloquia
  • 4
  • Exam
  • 1
  • Guidance
  • 5
  • Lectures
  • 18
  • Preparation
  • 130
  • Project work
  • 40
  • Theory exercises
  • 8
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Oral examination
Written assignment
---
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Criteria for exam assesment

The student must be able to explain the scientific basis for the experimental project made during the course. The student must be thoroughly conversant with the literature associated with the project completed and all written material handed out during the course. The grade 12 is given for an outstanding performance demonstrating a comprehensive overview and specific knowledge on all aspects of the syllabus.