This modules introduces the geological, chemical/physical processes that have shaped the global ocean, regulate climate and drive marine ecosystem processes from global to regional scales.

1. Describe processes, such as atmospheric and oceanic circulation, climate and weather, plate tectonics,

2. Explain the major physical oceangographic processes and how each affects chemical and biological processes in the ocean

3. Summarize the chemical properties of seawater and how each affects marine life.

The course presents advanced topics on the ecology of marine ecosystems, focusing on processes and patterns that are specific to the marine environment. It provides the student with an overview on the ecology and evolution of biodiversity of marine organisms. In marine population ecology, students will be taught the applications and interpretation of concepts and tools to understand population variability in marine systems, persistence, dispersal and connectivity between populations. In marine community ecology, students will study how relationships between species can regulate populations and shape communities, from pathogen/host to predator/prey, competitive and symbiotic interactions between different components of marine biodiversity.

1. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of thedistinct components of marine biodiversity, their life histories and evolutionary context.

2. Interpretfunctional interactions, patterns and processes in marine ecology.

3. Select, apply and evaluatetools to understand population variability in marine systems, persistence, dispersal and connectivity between populations

Numerical tools help to ask scientific questions more efficiently and extract appropriate answers. This course will introduce students to many basic techniques in data analysis and numerical modelling, to help them summarise a problem in mathematical terms, plan experiments or field sampling campaigns, and gather insights from the data collected. Students will learn how to identify sources of variation in biological data and decide on sampling/experimental units and replicates. Major inferential statistical and data exploration techniques will be taught. Numerical models will be introduced as a way to simplify and formalise a system. A programming language (R) will be used to apply all those techniques.

1. Design an experiment or field sampling campaign to test hypotheses

2. Select appropriate data analysis techniques considering assumptions of tests and nature of the data to be analysed

3. Critically evaluate/ interpret the output of basic inferential statistics

4. Present data and model output graphically

The module will introduce international, national and regional legal frameworks related to the management and administration of marine resources. Environmental economics will be introduced and discussed using a case study approach. Special emphasis will be devoted to the economic analysis of natural resource exploitation of renewable and open access resources, with application to fisheries. The course also addresses marine ecosystem conservation and biodiversity management, with an emphasis on the social-ecological aspects of marine protected areas. It tackles threats to marine conservation and current designs and lessons from the implementation of marine protected areas. The course explores different strategies to manage, control and monitor marine protected areas and their relationship with end users.

1. Demonstrate knowledge, understanding and the interactions betweeninternational, national and regional legislative instruments for marine resourceexploitation and marine biodiversity conservation.

2. Articulate thecomplexities in managing existing marine protected areas and to adopt decisions for the establishment of new areas.

3. Integrate aspects of the social,economic and ecological complexities affectingthe management of marine resources.

The module deals with genome-enabled insights into the broader framework of environmental marine science. Topics within the course include evolutionary as well as functional aspects of genes, genomes and metagenomes of marine organisms from the individual to the ecosystem-level. It aims to provide students with an introduction to the field of molecular ecology, specifically directed towards the marine environment on its organisms. Students will learn about the application of molecular population genetics, phylogenetics, as well as (meta-)genomics and (meta-)transcriptomics to traditional ecological and evolutionary questions (e.g., species diagnosis, conservation and assessment of biodiversity, quantitative genetics, heritability of traits and breeding studies, and questions of behavioural ecology).

1. Demonstrate and understanding ofthe ecological and evolutionary processes acting at the genomic level in populations of marine organisms

2. Select and apply appropriate molecular techniques to address specific marine ecologicalor evolutionary questions

3. Critically analyse and interpret molecular datasets from the individual to the community level

This module will provide an introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and their application in the marine environment. In Spatial Planning, learners will be taught concepts and models of marine spatial planning using a case study approach.

1. Demonstrate the application of spatial planning; coordination and decision making in practical case studies

2. Source, store and analyse a broad range of data types within a Geographic Information System

3. Create outputs pertinent to the application of Geographic Information Systems in line with their needs

Stakeholder engagement is crucial to the development of public policy, decision-making, and business practice. Decision-making is improved when stakeholder engagement improves communications, broadens community support for projects, and garners new resources, data and ideas. It is therefore often employed to tackle complex multi-dimensional problems, like those existing around biodiversity/conservation management. Attempts to resolve problems are more likely to succeed when decision making processes consider the social environment, and try to meet the needs of the stakeholders affected by it. This course provides practical guidance on how to plan and conduct effective Stakeholder Engagement processes, with emphasis on issues related to biodiversity/conservation management.

1. Analyse and identify stakeholders relevant to current biodiversity and conservation issues
2. Critically evaluate and select stakeholder engagement methods appropriate to contemporary issues
3. Design, implement and evaluate a stakeholder engagement strategy
4. Assess the efficacy of dissemination activities in achieving stakeholder adoption of project outcomes

Students will engage in a six-week period of professional practice in an organisation of relevance to the MSc programme. During Professional Practice, students will work under the guidance of a mentor in their host organisation and an academic supervisor from the partner universities. Learners will be encouraged to arrange professional practice with a non-academic organisation that will provide them with an experience of relevance to their future careers. The professional practice should develop the learner's professional competence, increase their self awareness and help inform decisions concerning their career path.

1. Demonstrate through interpersonal communications how their experience has improved their professional competence

2. Critically evaluate and articulate how they have contributed to their host organisation’s objectives.

3. Demonstrate the application of previously acquired theory and practical knowledge to their professional duties in the host organisation.

4. Articulate how their professional practice experience has modified their career aspirations.

5. Assess the effect of their professional practice on their future employment prospects.

Recent technological advances are allowing the development of fast, effective and reliable molecular tools for the study of organisms both in the wild and in captivity. Modern production systems rely on such approaches in order to be sustainable and profitable at the same time. This course provides an overview of modern genetic approaches, with particular attention to environmental DNA approaches

1. Describe the application of environmental DNA (eDNA) approaches and Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology.
2. Evaluate current and future application of molecuar techniques in production systems
3. Critically interpret results from the use of eDNA in a research context.

Understanding genetic diversity and differentiation in the wild is the first step in the development of sustainable modern breeding programmes, which in turn use molecular approaches in order to select for traits of interest in plant and animal production. This course provides an overview of genetic approaches applied to the study of wild and farmed organisms

1. Explain the concept of genetic variation
2. Discuss the application of molecular markers in characterizing wild stocks
3. Critically evaluate the use of molecular markers in aiding modern breeding programmes of aquatic organisms
4. Evaluate and identify appropriate tools for addressing different research questions in wild stock assessment and in selective breeding programmes.
5. Interpret DNA sequence and microsatellite data in population genetics and pedigree reconstruction scenarios.