MARI2410
Coral Reef Experiences
10 Units
Available in 2014
| Ourimbah | Semester 2 |
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Previously offered in 2013, 2011, 2010, 2009
Coral reefs are ecologically diverse an extremely complex habitats, supporting thousands of marine species, and are considered to be the richest and most complex of all marine ecosystems. The largest of these reef systems is The Great Barrier Reef running more than 2000 kilometres along the north eastern coast of Australia covering an area of over 250,000 square kilometres.
This introductory course will examine some of the biological and ecological and aspects of the Great Barrier Reef in order to gain a better understanding of this complex and unique environment. The students will not only gain some general knowledge of the corals and the reef-building process, but also a better appreciation of the numerous other marine organisms that affect and are associated with the reef and their overall role in the reef ecosystem. This course will be particularly beneficial to those students pursuing careers in teaching where they will be able to take this knowledge and experience in to their classrooms in the future.
This course is not to be counted for credit with MARI3410, Coral Reef Biology and Ecology
This course is not part of the Marine Sciences major of the Bachelor of Science. Students who have passed MARI2900 may not enrol in MARI2410. Students who have passed MARI2900 can not count MARI2410 towards their degree.
The field component of this course requires a significant up-front fee, not covered by HECS. This may vary with each offering of the course, so interested students should contact the School of Environmental and Life Sciences for more information.
In order to participate in this course, students must complete a compulsory Workplace Health and Safety requirement. Students will receive full information on this compulsory course component in the course outline provided by the school.
| Objectives | On successful completion of this course, students will be expected to: 1. demonstrate a general understanding of the processes and marine organisms associated with coral reef formation, 2. demonstrate a general understanding and an appreciation of the ecology of coral reefs, 3. identify some of the common flora and fauna associated with coral reefs, 4. demonstrate a general understanding of the dangerous marine organisms associated with coral reefs, 5. apply gained knowledge from the course towards a small project and a report on various aspects of coral reefs, 6. develop an appreciation of the complexities of coral reefs and how man's activities influence these processes. On successful completion of this course, students will also gain skills in: 1. determining the appropriate steps for OH&S issues for field studies such as this one on a coral reef island, 2. identifying the dangerous marine organisms associated with coral reefs, 3. carrying out appropriate preventative and / or first aid procedures regarding dangerous marine organisms associated with coral reefs, 4. the use of flora and fauna keys for the identification of coral reef organisms. |
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| Content | The course will be as an on-line presentation during semester 2 with several labs to be held at the Ourimbah Campus and Part 2 the practical component lasting one week, and will take place at Lady Elliot Island on the Great Barrier Reef. Part 1 (on-line Semester 2 at Ourimbah Campus): - General background on coral reefs - Reef building and non-reef building organisms - Coral reef ecology - General familiarization and identification of coral reef organisms - Dangerous marine organisms & prevention and first aid - Lab examining different coral types and other marine organisms associated with the coral reef. - Lab examining different dangerous marine organisms associated with the coral reef. Part 2: (1 week at Lady Elliot Island): The practical component of the course will be set up as contract-learning modules with both required and elective portions for the student to complete. The final practical grade will be based on the number of modules completed during the time allotted for the practical session. - Lady Elliot Island orientation & familiarization - Dangerous marine organisms - OH&S issues for the stay on Lady Elliot - Module Implementation for both mandatory and elective topics: * Birds of the Great Barrier Reef * Marine Mammals of the Great Barrier Reef * Sea Turtles of the Great Barrier Reef * Barrier Reef Island Plants * The Exposed Reef Flat Ecosystem * The Submerged Reef Flat Ecosystem * The Shallow Sublittoral Ecosystem * The Deep Sublittoral Ecosystm * Invertebrates of The Great Barrier Reef * Fish of the Great Barrier Reef * Sharks and Rays of the Great Barrier Reef * Reef-building Corals of the Great Barrier Reef * Non-reef Building Corals of the Great Barrier Reef |
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| Replacing Course(s) | N/A | ||||||||
| Transition | This course is not to be counted for credit with MARI3410, Coral Reef Biology and Ecology This course is not part of the Marine Sciences major of the Bachelor of Science. Students who have passed MARI2900 may not enrol in MARI2410. Students who have passed MARI2900 can not count MARI2410 towards their degree. |
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| Industrial Experience | 0 | ||||||||
| Assumed Knowledge | None | ||||||||
| Modes of Delivery | Internal Mode | ||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Field Study
Lecture Laboratory Practical |
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| Assessment Items |
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| Contact Hours | Lecture: for 3 hour(s) per Week for Full Term Field Study: for 36 hour(s) per Week for 1 weeks |
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| Compulsory Components |
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| Timetables | 2014 Course Timetables for MARI2410 |