OCEA0085-1 : Methods of investigation, observation and analysis of marine plankton

Study Programmes 2016-2017

OCEA0085-1

Methods of investigation, observation and analysis of marine plankton

Duration :

10h Th, 5h Pr, 12h Mon. WS

Number of credits :

Master in biology of organisms and ecology (120 ECTS)		3
Master in oceanography (120 ECTS)		4

Lecturer :

Anne Goffart

Language(s) of instruction :

French language

Organisation and examination :

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents :

Despite its reduced size, plankton is a key-element of ocean ecosystem. The study of diversity, distribution and dynamics of plankton organisms nowadays relies on the use of a variety of tools and requires a multidisciplinary approach.
The course will focus on :

general and specific characteristics of plankton diversity;
taxonomic tools for understanding plankton diversity;
the presentation of a variety of tools allowing to investigate plankton characteristics (e.g. plankton nets, gliders, satellites, ... ) in relation with environmental parameters;
methods of observation and analysis of plankton (e.g. microscopy, flow cytometry, flowcam, zooscan, chemotaxonomy, ocean color products, ...) and their use in plankton research;
examples of observation conducted at different spatial and temporal scales.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit :

To acquire the actual state of knowlege on the methods of investigation, observation and analysis of marine plankton;

To design and to plan an oceanographic campaign focusing on an objective in the field of the plankton research, taking into account practical constraints (spatio-temporal scales, characteristics of the system to study, choice of instrumentation, ...).

Prerequisite knowledge and skills :

Basic knowledge in physical and pelagic oceanography.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods :

Theoretical courses, exercices (TD) and laboratory practicals (TP).
Exercices (TD) are direct applications of theorical concepts given during the lectures. They are case study based on real data sets.
Laboratory practicals (TP) include phyto- and zooplankton observation, identification and counts.
Realization of a personal work : design and planning of an oceanographic campaign based on an objective in the field of the plankton research. The working time at home is included in the credits of the present course.

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :

Face-to-face