Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya · BarcelonaTech

Marine Ecology, Ecosystems and Production Processes (250566) – Course 2025/26 PDF

Syllabus

Learning Objectives

In this subject, the basic aspects of biodiversity (of species, genetics and ecosystems), the concept of indexes (which relate the number of species of a community and other ecological magnitudes such as number, biomass, productivity, etc.), and how they are posed from a mathematical standpoint, will be introduced in a conceptual manner. Subsequently, a review of the management of the environment and natural resources will be made and finally aspects related to the Ecology and the interactions that determine the distribution, abundance, number and organization of the organisms in the ecosystems will be addressed. Emphasis will be placed on the ecology of marine aquatic populations, communities and ecosystems. 1.- Understand the concepts of system and ecosystem, ecology and evolution. Understand the adaptation of different organisms to their environment, as well as the close relationship that each link holds within an ecosystem. 2.- Understand the life cycle of marine species: the larval stages, growth, fertilization, mortality. Relate the different organisms in their ecosystems with reproductive and population strategies, dispersion, etc. 3.- Understand the interactions between species and the competence processes, as well as the state of maturity of an ecosystem as it adapts to the resource and evolves over time. Assimilate the concepts of zonation in the marine space, the processes that control the abundance and distribution of resources, cyclical perturbations over time and indirect interactions. Trophic cascade in the marine environment. This is where students are expected to obtain a vision of real environmental problems in the marine environment from a perspective that combines, on the one hand, chemistry and biology, as well as the mathematical techniques to address these problems (Marine Ecology, Ecosystems and Productive Processes) and, on the other, the tools of chemistry, biology and physics (Marine Pollution, Origin, Transport and Impacts), which are needed to solve common problems in coastal and platform waters. This subject also includes applied techniques in the visualization, interpretation and resolution of the problems addressed in this same subject.

Competencies

Especific

To know and apply the lexicon and concepts of the Marine Sciences and Technologies and other related fields.

Establish a good practice in the integration of common numerical, laboratory and field techniques in the analysis of any problem related to the marine environment.

Participate and eventually lead multidisciplinary work teams in the field of Marine Sciences and Technologies to respond to the social challenges related to this field.

Address the most relevant processes and their interactions related to their physical / chemical / biological / geological components, applying technical and scientific knowledge and criteria.

To set, evaluate and propose solutions to the different conflicts of use and exploitation in the marine and coastal environment resources based on scientific and technical criteria.

Carry out environmental impact, management and protection studies of the marine environment and adjacent coastal areas, including the corresponding infrastructures and their related impacts.

Develop a conceptual framework to address the sustainability of the marine environment and the related socio-economic activities at different scales, explaining the effects of climate change.

Set, plan and execute basic and applied research in the field of Marine Sciences and Technologies.

Carry out calculations, assessments, surveys and inspections in coastal and marine environments, as well as the corresponding technical documents.

Write technical reports and disseminate knowledge about the different components of the marine system, considering the applicable legal framework.

Apply the necessary tools to analyze the economic and legal aspects of human actions and the related impacts on the marine environment, including technical advice and representation of companies and administrations.

Generic

Develop a professional activity in the field of Marine Sciences and Technologies.

Address in a comprehensive manner the analysis and preservation of the marine environment with sustainability criteria.

Apply state-of-the-art methods and techniques in oceanography and marine climate, jointly covering the physical, chemical, geological and biological aspects.

Total hours of student work

Hours Percentage
Supervised Learning Large group 58.2h 97.00 %
Laboratory classes 1.8h 3.00 %
Self Study 90h

Teaching Methodology

The course is based on theory sessions where main aspects of the course will be exposed. These sessions will be complemented with numercial exercises, analysis of case studies and assigments to complement the academic formation of the estudents. Although most of the sessions will be given in the language indicated, sessions supported by other occasional guest experts may be held in other languages.

Grading Rules

The evaluation calendar and grading rules will be approved before the start of the course.

The grade for the subject will consist of: - Group work (note: NTG). - Two exams (E1 and E2, grades: NE1 and NE2). 1. Group work (TG) will be groups of 3-4 students. The topic of the work will be chosen at the beginning of the course from a list of topics related to the subject. It will require bibliographic research, reading and analyzing a limited number of references that include a minimum of two scientific articles in relation to the chosen topic. The written document will be presented fourteen days before the oral presentation. The oral presentation will last 45 minutes and then there will be 15 minutes to answer questions from the other classmates and the subject teacher. The grade for this work (NTG) will not be the same for each member of the group as the ability to explain the concepts learned and the ability to answer the questions raised will be scored independently for each member of the group. 2. The contents of the E1 and E2 exams will be in accordance with all the material taught since the beginning of the course. The Final Grade (NF) of the subject will be: Final Grade = 0.20*NTG + 0.80*NE, where the exam grade (NE) will be calculated as: NE = 0.5*NE1+0.5*NE2 Re-evaluation (RE) Criteria for qualification and admission to the re-evaluation (Re): Students suspended in the ordinary assessment who have regularly appeared in the assessment tests of the suspended subject will have the option to take a re-assessment test in the period set in the academic calendar. Students who have already passed the subject will not be able to take the re-evaluation test, nor students who are classified as not presented or who have not handed in the Group Work (TG). The re-evaluation (RE) will consist of a single exam that includes the content of the entire course. The maximum grade for the re-evaluation will be five (5.0) and the final grade for the course will be the maximum grade between the continuous assessment and the re-evaluation exam, i.e. MAX(NF and RE). The non-attendance of a student summoned to the re-evaluation test, held in the fixed period, cannot give rise to the completion of another test with a later date. Extraordinary assessments will be carried out for those students who, due to accredited force majeure, have not been able to take any of the continuous assessment tests. These tests must be authorized by the corresponding head of studies, at the request of the teacher responsible for the subject, and will be carried out within the corresponding teaching period.

Test Rules

If one of the continuous assessment activities is not carried out in the scheduled period, it will be considered as a zero score. The tests will be carried out individually, with questions that can be developed by the students, test type or solution of exercises to be solved. During the first 15 minutes of the official start time of the exam, students will be able to access the classroom, without this implying an increase in the time set to take the exam, unless there is a delay attributable to the University. Once the exam has started, no student will be allowed to leave the classroom until 15 minutes have passed since the start of the test. After this time (15 min) new students will no longer be accepted for the test and those who wish may leave the classroom after taking the exam.

Office Hours

Consultation hours to be agreed with the teacher of the subject.

Bibliography

Basic

Complementary