Methods of investigation, observation and analysis of marine plankton

Duration

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

Number of credits

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

Recommended or required readings

Reference articles and useful web links are given to students.

Assessment methods and criteria

Oral evaluation

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

The course schedule is drawn up by mutual agreement between the students and the teacher.
Students will work on their own computer.
 

Contacts

Dr Anne Goffart - A.Goffart@ulg.ac.be University of Liège, Oceanology  Phone +32 (0)4 366 50 76