BI2MFC-Marine Biology and Conservation Field Course

Module Provider: School of Biological Sciences
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Summer term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Dr Glyn Barrett
Email: glyn.barrett@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

Immerse yourselves in the Marine Biology and Conservation field course to Cape Town, South Africa, an exciting and unique opportunity for you to develop skills in SCUBA diving and snorkelling; field marine biology; biodiversity surveying and practical marine conservation.

The field course is designed to give you advanced understanding of rocky reef and kelp forest communities along the coastal waters of the Cape Peninsula. The Cape Peninsula lies at the juncture of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans and is thus an area of exceptional marine and coastal biodiversity. You will learn how to plan and conduct dive surveys and collect data for research projects whilst contributing to the study and conservation of the marine environment. There will be opportunities for diving with 7-gilled and cat sharks, visiting seal island with its resident 70,000 Cape fur seals and whale watching.

Aims:

The field course is designed to give students advanced understanding of rocky reef and kelp forest communities along the coastal waters of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa. The Cape Peninsula lies at the juncture of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans and is thus an area of exceptional marine and coastal biodiversity. Students will employ and further develop their SCUBA diving knowledge and skills and apply these to underwater research of marine ecosystems. Students will learn several internationally recognized ecological assessment methods (e.g. NOAA line-point intercept and Roving Diver survey) and apply these in real life situations. Students will carry out individual mini-projects and collect and analyse their own data sets which will feed into the assessment.

Assessable learning outcomes:

The field course is, in essence, a scientific diving course, which includes both theoretical and practical elements. Upon completion of the course, it is expected that students will:

• Be able to manipulate a range of basic and advanced underwater surveying tools including compasses, transect lines, fish survey T-bars, BRUVs and underwater photographic equipment; and employ these in carrying out various underwater surveying techniques.


• Gain funda mental knowledge in research methodologies necessary to conduct scientific investigations in temperate marine environments and particularly for the study of rocky reef and kelp forest ecosystems.


• Be able to maintain and prepare individual SCUBA diving kit and underwater surveying equipment for safe and effective data collection in the field from both shore and boat dives.


• Be proficient in the underwater identification of Southern African teleosts, elasmobranchs, a lgae and major invertebrate groups.


• Learn marine centric analytical methods in R and GIS mapping.


• Be fluent in accessing relevant literature for the preparation of group reports and presentation.

Additional outcomes:

Students will be required to undertake training and gain professional certification in SCUBA diving. A minimum level of PADI (Professional Association of Dive Instructors) Advanced Open Water certification (or equivalent) will be required before students are allowed to take the field course. This certification is internationally recognised and includes development of a range of transferable marine-based skills including underwater navigation, buoyancy control, safety procedures and first aid on land and at sea.

Group work will feature heavily in the teaching and teaching through which students will develop research, communication, problem-solving and teamwork skills. The module will help to prepare students for careers in marine conservation, wildlife management, fisheries and other marine industries as well as environmental consultancy and ecological surveying.

Outline content:

Students will receive expert guidance in and deep understanding of the ecology of marine ecosystems and advanced methods in identifying species underwater, surveying habitats and quantifying marine biodiversity.

The module will build on knowledge gained from the Part 2 BI2MBC module and further develop practical skills in marine biology and conservation. Lectures, practical and in-water classes will focus on the functional diversity of organisms existing in temperate and s ub-tropical marine environments and particularly kelp forests. Ecophysiological and adaptive aspects of key taxonomic groups, particularly macro-invertebrates, elasmobranchs and teleosts will be discussed.

The course includes presentations and workshops on various field and analysis methods including species identification and surveying methodologies. Students will carry out daily paired-survey dives at various sites along the Cape Peninsula Marine Protected Area. During fiel d-work students will be accompanied at all times by field biologists and dive safety instructors.

Students will also carry out group research projects which will tie in with a number of long running monitoring programmes in the area. General areas of investigation include: 1. Fish shoaling and shark behavioural studies; 2. Endemic elasmobranch monitoring programme; and 3. The effect of grazers on kelp density and distribution.

Global context:

The lecture material will cover key oceanic and ecological principles and ecosystem processes across a range of marine environments and biomes on a global scale. Students will explore current conservation issues affecting parts of the world in local, regional and global contexts (e.g. microplastics in the marine environment and unsustainable harvesting by commercial fisheries).

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

All contact hours will be conducted at overseas site (currently in Cape Town, South Africa).

Most mornings will start with a 1-2 hour lectures and cover aspects of diving safety and protocol, fauna identification, the ecology of local habitats, biological knowledge, surveying methods, photograph and video analyses, experimental design/protocols and statistical analyses. Students will be trained in post survey data management and analyses. This includes inputting, checking and analysing various databases such as iNaturalist and ELMO Africa. Planned lectures will include:

• Dive orientation - Introduction to Cape waters, Dive planning, Dive safety


• Citizen science program and the importance of public engagement


• Introduction to scientific diving (Physics of diving, benthic surveying techniques, local fish identification, BRUVS, macroinvertebrate identification, fish surveying techniques)


• K elp ecology


• Introduction to Freediving workshop


• Individual project protocol and dive objectives with experimental design


• Measuring biodiversity in the marine environment


• Data input and analysis


• Introduction workshop to R and GIS and movement ecology exercises

Training dives will take place either in the pool or in open water and include: general acclimatization dives; pool swim tests; basic SCUBA and rescue skill refresher; navigation techniques; various surveying techniques for macroinvertebrates and fish; photo/video quadrat techniques. Dives conducted will include:

• Acclimatization dive


• Citizen Science Roving Diver Survey


• Fish rapid visual transect dive


• Invertebrate surveying dive


• Photo/Videoquadrat dive


• Kelp surveying dive


• Sampling methods
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Fish belt transect dive.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures			10
Seminars			10
Project Supervision			10
Practicals classes and workshops			20
Fieldwork			80
Guided independent study:
Peer assisted learning			10
Preparation for presentations			10
Group study tasks			10
Carry-out research project			40
Total hours by term	0	0
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Project output other than dissertation	40
Oral assessment and presentation	20
Practical skills assessment	40

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Project output (40%) – Paired field project report. This will include a field notebook detailing techniques learnt in practical marine conservation, species lists, SCUBA diving protocols and how these used to carry out data collection and analysis. Students will also have to summarize their findings in blog format and create a 3-minute vlog of their experience and learning outcomes.

Oral assessment and presentation (20%) – A mini symposium will be organised for students to prepare a 5-7 minute presentation of their research project to their peers.

Practical skills assessment (40%) – Students will be assessed in-field on their practical skills for marine research (e.g. SCUBA dive equipment set up; animal and algal identification skills; fish and macro-invertebrate transect set up and data collection; stationary point count).

Formative assessment methods:

Through direct interaction with module convenor, visiting academics, and on-site training and technical staff the students will be encouraged to test their knowledge of: (1.) practical marine ecology and surveying of marine biodiversity and (2.) marine conservation issues of concern and mitigation strategies.

Practical training and feedback will be ongoing throughout the duration of the course on all aspects of: marine surveying; species identification; health and safety in the field especially the marine environment; robust design of methodology and data collection; data analysis and interpretation.

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

A mark of 40% overall.

Reassessment arrangements:

Re-submission of coursework (requires discussion with the module convener).

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Cost	Amount
Required text books	PADI Open Water Manual, PADI Advanced Open Water Manual, Hiscock (2014) Marine Biodiversity Conservation, A practical approach (~£35)
Specialist equipment or materials	SCUBA and surveying equipment hire will form part of the package
Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear	Sun protection
Printing and binding	n/a
Computers and devices with a particular specification	Waterproof camera (recommended but not required)
Travel, accommodation and subsistence	The costs of travel are borne by the student, including flights, accommodation, food, visas, permits, and vaccinations.

Last updated: 8 April 2021