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| OCEA0044-3 | Ecology of the coral reefs
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| Duration : | 30h Th |
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| Number of credits : |
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| Lecturer : | Mathieu Poulicek |
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Language(s) of instruction :
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| French language |
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Course contents :
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| The course begins with a synthetic approach of reef cnidaria (morphology, biology, systematics, symbiosis functioning, mainly concerning warm water settings). Then we review several aspects of the structure and functioning of reefs : paleontological origin of the reef phenomenon, structure and zonation, geological evolution of reef morphology (fringing, barrier, plateau reefs and atolls), zoogeographical aspects and description of animal communities associated to different ecological niches within the reef, trophic functioning ...
At the end we approach socio-economic aspects of reefs and dangers suscetible to affect reefs : touristic impacts, global change, bleaching and other pathologies, ressources overexploitation... |
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Learning outcomes of the course :
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| To propose an integrated synthesis of the reef world. |
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Prerequisites and co-requisites/ Recommended optional programme components :
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| Basic knowledge in biology and ecology. |
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Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
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| 5 laboratory periods devoted to macro- and microscopic morphology (1) and systematics (1) of corals, pictures and video recordings analysis about structure and biogeography of reefs with ReefCheck software (2), and quantitative analysis of some bleaching phenomenons with the devices and softare CoralWatch. |
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Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
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| 5 courses basing on powerpoint documents, schedule to be discussed. |
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Recommended or required readings :
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| Syllabus available at 1st course and CD-rom with all powerpoint files and a copy of the software used during laboratory periods (ReefCheck and CoralWatch). |
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Assessment methods and criteria :
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| Oral exam : 1 theoretical question (40%), 1 slide to comment (40%) and 1 "object" to identify and situate in its context (20%) |
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Organizational remarks :
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| none |
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Contacts :
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| Mathieu Poulicek
Unité d'Ecologie marine, Laboratoire d'Ecologie animale et Ecotoxicologie
Institut de Chimie (Bât. B6c)
B-4000 Sart Tilman
Tél : 04 366 50 67
Email : mpoulicek@ulg.ac.be |
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