Competencies and objectives

 

Course context for academic year 2023-24

The Management and Conservation of Marine Living Resources is a compulsory subject of the fourth year of the Degree in Marine Sciences, at the University of Alicante. Its profile is linked to the areas of knowledge of Zoology and Ecology, and its descriptors include such as marine biodiversity, demersal and pelagic resources, management and conservation measures, marine protected areas, and artificial reefs. Considering these epigraphs, the relationship of this discipline with other closely related ones is obvious; so obvious, perhaps, that the first question one should ask would be: Is the Management and Conservation of Marine Living Resources a science? Recent research suggests that the diversity of the seas has been repeatedly underestimated and that the number of new forms to be learned may be greater in the seas than in terrestrial environments. As an indicator, worth the fact that the number of phyla present in the marine environment is much higher than in the ecosystems, and that half of the animal phyla appear only in the sea. Another aspect of the sea to consider is its character as a pantry for humanity. The marine ecosystem provides a large part of the animal protein consumed by humans, and also at a very affordable price. The sea is also turning out to be a promising source of pharmacological products, with antiviral and antitumor properties. On the other hand, the sea is one of the tourist destinations par excellence of humanity, generating a very important economic activity in continuous expansion, which is offered as an alternative to some coastal communities as an alternative to the direct exploitation of living resources. On the other hand, some marine structures such as coral reefs, phanerogam meadows, or mangroves act as defensive barriers against storms or the coastal dynamics itself, helping to protect the coast, existing infrastructures, and human populations that they populate it. The marine environment also helps in slowing down the overheating of the Earth, which slowly but inexorably causes the rise in sea level, with all the implications that this entails in terms of modification of the coastline and the disappearance of equipment and equipment. human goods. The sea has also been the cradle of various fundamental theories and concepts important to general scientific knowledge, with important implications for conservation and management. To this, we must add the fact that the marine environment accounts for slightly more than 70% of the earth's surface, and exceeds more than 300 times the volume of living space offered by the terrestrial environment.

This signature will be developed in an eminently practical and applied way, to ensure the acquisition of knowledge and skills of a high cognitive level. Taking this course will prepare future graduates to successfully pursue professional life.

 

 

Course content (verified by ANECA in official undergraduate and Master’s degrees) for academic year 2023-24

Specific Competences:>>Theoretical

  • CE1 : Possess a basic understanding of molecular structure, genetics, cell organisation and the evolutionary processes of living beings.
  • CE10 : Understand the different adaptations (morphological, physical, conduct) of living beings in the marine environment.
  • CE14 : Acquire knowledge of the different fields of application (resources, planning and management, infrastructures, etc.) of the marine sciences.
  • CE7 : Understand the structural and functional organisation of marine organisms and their biological diversity.
  • CE8 : Understand the basic principles of ecology, the structure and function of ecosystems, developing it for the marine and coastal environment.

 

Specific Competences:>>Ability

  • CE24 : Capacity to recognise, evaluate and manage marine resources of different types.
  • CE26 : Acquire the ability to design, process information, draft and execute projects related with marine and coastal environments.
  • CE28 : Be able to prepare training and dissemination programmes in different areas of marine sciences.
  • CE30 : Be able to carry out standard sampling procedures related to research tasks in the sea and in the laboratory.
  • CE32 : Recognise and analyse new marine science problems, as well as those of other sciences, and plan strategies for action.
  • CE33 : Design measures for the conservation and protection of marine and coastal species and habitats.
  • CE34 : Apply the knowledge and techniques acquired to characterise ecosystems and propose conservation, management and restoration measures.
  • CE35 : Know and understand the importance of bio-indicators in the marine environment, as well as their evaluation and monitoring.
  • CE36 : Ability for professional interaction with social segments, whose perceptions can be incorporated to improve the studies and/or activities to be carried out.

 

 

 

Learning outcomes (Training objectives)

  • Conèixer els aspectes fonamentals de la biodiversitat marina, en els diversos nivells, i les adaptacions a l'ambient marí i litoral.
  • Conèixer els efectes de l'explotació sobre diversos components de l'ecosistema marí.
  • Conèixer i aplicar els elements necessaris per a dissenyar i gestionar mesures de protecció i conservació de les espècies i els hàbitats marins.
  • Capacitació bàsica per a desenvolupar un projecte o estudi relacionat amb l'ordenació de recursos vius marins.
  • Desenvolupar una actitud crítica sobre l'ordenació de recursos vius marins des de punts de vista diversos.

 

 

Specific objectives stated by the academic staff for academic year 2023-24

Acquire skills on the fundamental aspects of the structure and function of marine biodiversity.
Analyze the effects of the main factors (abiotic and biotic) that influence the distribution of marine organisms.

Experiment with different abiotic and biotic factors and their effects on the distribution of marine organisms and their application to the management of marine biodiversity.

Apply the knowledge and skills acquired to solving problems in the management of marine biodiversity.

Apply the techniques of sampling and experimental design, the classification of organisms in the marine environment and the measurement of environmental variables in the resolution of scientific-technical problems related to marine protected areas and artificial reefs.

Develop materials, documentation and scientific-technical proposals on marine protected areas and artificial reefs based on the experimental results obtained.

Critically evaluate content, texts, proposals, etc. related to the management and conservation of living marine resources

 

 

General

Code: 24541
Lecturer responsible:
Bayle Sempere, Just Tomas
Credits ECTS: 6,00
Theoretical credits: 0,40
Practical credits: 2,00
Distance-base hours: 3,60

Departments involved

  • Dept: MARINE SCIENCES AND APPLIED BIOLOGY
    Area: ZOOLOGY
    Theoretical credits: 0,4
    Practical credits: 2
    This Dept. is responsible for the course.
    This Dept. is responsible for the final mark record.

Study programmes where this course is taught