Maldives Field Trip - ENV00030M

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Module will run

Occurrence	Teaching period
A	Spring Term 2022-23

Module aims

The module aims to:

• Familiarise students with common families and species of fish and corals in the Indian Ocean
• Increase students knowledge of other major biota in the Indian Ocean
• Provide students with knowledge of the range of environmental impacts affecting coral reefs, and a broad understanding of the mechanisms involved
• Make students aware of the principal management issues affecting coral reefs, particularly with respect to Marine Protected Areas in the Indian Ocean
• Give students experience of the principal survey methods used to monitor coral reef communities
• Develop understanding of the strategies and issues involved in designing sampling programmes

As this is an optional field course module a charge additional to tuition fees is incurred by students taking this module. Costs will vary depending on number of students on the module, exchange rates, changes in accomodation charges by providers etc. In 2017-18 the cost of the field course per student, with 11 students attending the module, was £1320 per student.

Module learning outcomes

• Identify major functional groups within a coral reef ecosystem
• Identify common fish and coral species
• Undertake surveys to assess the abundance and diversity of fish, corals and other reef invertebrates
• Propose the most appropriate strategies for monitoring reefs and reef biota at either specific sites or across larger areas
• Recognise likely causes of coral mortality and coral community degradation and suggest measures to combat them
• Appreciate the principal management issues arising in coral reef areas and be able to address them
• Contrast Indian Ocean reef biota and management issues with those from other areas

 

Generic / Employability Skills:

• Gained practical field work experience work in a variety of underwater sampling techniques and species identification
• Gained experience in how to handle and analyse field data
• Become able to appreciate the difference between a healthy and a degraded coral reef
• Experienced life in a highly remote location with very basic facilities

Indicative assessment

Task	% of module mark
Essay/coursework	100

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task	% of module mark
Essay/coursework	100

Module feedback

Written feedback on your report will be e-mailed within four weeks of your hand-in.

Indicative reading

To be provided by module convenor