Electives in Ecology I

(3-5 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

ZO 3081 Elective in Ecology at TCD, comprised of ZO 3303 Estuarine Ecology, ZO 3305 Marine Biology, and ZO 3307 Terrestrial Ecology Field Course and Z03301 Marine Biology Field Course. ZO 3303-The elective consists of a series of lectures on a variety of aspects such as estuarine usage, management and conflicts; the biota, from birds to algae and microbes, with the accent on processes and productivity; sediments and geomorphology; hydrology; sampling strategies and methods; pollution inputs, effects and detection and the environmental interactions of the various influences. ZO3305- This elective presents an introduction to Marine Biology and the ocean habitat. It covers: Marine habitats; organisms of the plankton, seasonal cycles and distribution of planktonic organisms; the sea shore, shore zonation. Hard and soft substrates and the benthos. Seafloor sediments and infauna; special habitats: the deep sea; coral reefs; polar waters. ZO 3307- A residential terrestrial field course will be run over a one week period towards the end of the Hilary Term. There will be an introduction to field techniques used for the study of terrestrial ecosystems with an emphasis on zoological assessment. Field visits will help with an understanding of contrasting habitats and conservation management. Zo 3301 Marine Biology Field Course. The various marine habitats in Co. Down are explored using Queen's Univ. marine facility at Portaferry as a base. The emphasis is on learning about the great variety of form and habit in marine organisms and the student is introduced to taxonomy, morphology and marine science. Perth: This unit seeks to examine the soil as an environment for the growth of plants, and to develop a basic understanding of plant nutrition. The unit integrates knowledge of biological components of soil fertility with the physical and chemical components of soil. The role of soil biota in cycling nutrients for plants and in the development of a suitable environment for plant growth is emphasised. These aspects are considered in the context of soil management to maintain sustainable agricultural, horticultural and forest production, to restore disturbed natural ecosystems and to understand processes in managed and natural ecosystems.