Marine biodiversity: general concept. Genetic, species biodiversity and ecosystems Operation of marine organisms: Principles of animal and plant physiology. Response to environmental adaptations. Ecosystems: structure, conditioning factors and interactions. Marine environments: Pelagic region, benthic region.

Specific Objectives

The objective of this subject is to understand the concept of marine biodiversity, the main groups of species that contribute and the importance for the marine environment Understand the basic principles of operation of marine organisms (plants and animals) and their adaptation mechanisms (ecophysiology) to environmental conditions Understand the relationships of marine organisms between them and the environment in which they live. Learn about the main marine environments, their general characteristics and those of the communities that inhabit them

Dedication

Plankton and necton communities. Factors that condition pelagic life Primary or autotrophic producers. The phytoplankton. Photosynthesis and chemosynthesis. Distribution and diversity. Main groups of phytoplankton organisms Primary consumers: zooplankton. Distribution and diversity. Main groups of zooplankton organisms Secondary and tertiary consumers: large invertebrates and vertebrates. Main groups of organisms Factors that condition benthic life. Primary producers: bacteria, algae. Consumers and decomposers. Main groups of organisms Algae: characteristics, distribution, diversity. Main groups of algae. Life in coastal areas with tides: intertidal zone, beaches, mangroves and estuaries Life on the coast without tides: rocky coastlines, beaches, wetlands, deltas

Specific Objectives

Learn the main groups that make up the communities of plankton and necton, as well as their characteristics and the factors of the environment that determine their life.

Dedication

The student will have to carry out a work of identification of species from the instructions that will be provided in the classroom The student will have to carry out a necropsy to understand the principles of the physiology of fish and other marine species The student will have to build a simplified model of a marine ecosystem, based on a specific choice of species and environmental conditions The research facilities of the Institute of Sciences of the Sea of Barcelona (CSIC) will be visited where there will also be a lecture on the latest advances in research in marine biology

Dedication