Description and contextualization of the subject

Marine diversity as a tool in environmental quality assessment and its value for protection of endangered ecosystems and for environmental monitoring and assessment programs in the framework of regulatory directives (EU Water Framework Directive, etc.).



Aims

¿ To be aware that marine diversity is a precious treasure to preserve in conservation programmes and a key variable to assess environmental quality in endangered ecosystems.

¿ To introduce the basic concepts used in marine ecological quality assessment.

¿ To provide a basic knowledge on the Water Framework Directive and other legislative references and their implications for the marine quality assessment

¿ To provide the methods for the integrative ecological assessment of marine quality

¿ To present some practical cases dealing with the integrative ecological assessment of marine quality



Objectives

At the end of the Unit, you should:

1. recognize characteristic taxa of algae, invertebrates and fishes from coastal ecosystems.

2. assess environmental quality, by using different diversity measures.

3. design and analyse monitoring programmes for algae and animals

4. have a good knowledge of the main legislative references in relation to the assessment of the quality of the marine environment, especially the Water Framework Directive.

5. interpret the data from monitoring programs

6. design monitoring programs for the assessment of the quality of the marine environment



Key Skills Acquired

1. Generic skills: report writing, scientific writing, working in teams, oral presentations, library information retrieval and critical analysis of literature, presentation and manipulation of data (e.g. water quality data interpretation biological data interpretation), ability in integrative interpretation of data.

Learning outcomes of the subject

Generic skills: report writing, scientific writing, working in teams, oral presentations, library information retrieval and critical analysis of literature, presentation and manipulation of data (e.g. water quality data interpretation biological data interpretation), ability in integrative interpretation of data.

Ordinary call: orientations and renunciation

Condiciones de evaluación a discutir con el profesorado.



Las condiciones de renuncia a la convocatoria ordinaria se rigen por la Normativa de permanencia del alumnado de los másteres universitarios aprobada por el acuerdo de consejo social de la UPV/EHU el 22 de Julio de 2015. En todo caso habrá que comunicar por escrito al profesor(a) responsable de la asignatura la renuncia a la convocatoria, antes de la primera prueba de evaluación de la asignatura.



El método de evaluación incluido en esta guía puede sufrir cambios si las directrices de las autoridades sanitarias así lo estableciesen. Las modificaciones a adoptar se anunciarían oportunamente, contando con las estrategias y herramientas necesarias para garantizar el derecho del alumnado a ser evaluado con equidad y justicia.

Extraordinary call: orientations and renunciation

Condiciones de evaluación a discutir con el profesorado.



Las condiciones de renuncia a la convocatoria ordinaria se rigen por la Normativa de permanencia del alumnado de los másteres universitarios aprobada por el acuerdo de consejo social de la UPV/EHU el 22 de Julio de 2015. En todo caso habrá que comunicar por escrito al profesor(a) responsable de la asignatura la renuncia a la convocatoria, antes de la primera prueba de evaluación de la asignatura.



El método de evaluación incluido en esta guía puede sufrir cambios si las directrices de las autoridades sanitarias así lo estableciesen. Las modificaciones a adoptar se anunciarían oportunamente, contando con las estrategias y herramientas necesarias para garantizar el derecho del alumnado a ser evaluado con equidad y justicia.

Temary

PART 1. BIODIVERSITY ASSESSMENT & MONITORING

1. Richness of diversity based on algae, invertebrates and fishes from coastal ecosystems.

2. How to sample, undertake surveys and perform floristic and faunistic analyses to: (a) measure diversity; (b) select appropriate bioindicators of environmental state; and (c) assess environmental quality in many endangered habitats.

3. Temporal dimension in the design and analysis of efficient monitoring programmes, to evaluate ecological recovery, once correction measures have been implemented by environmental managers.

4. Role of Aquaria in education programmes and conservation of target species.

Field trip 1. Floristic and faunistic survey

Field trip 2. Visit to Aquarium Donostia



PART 2. INTEGRATIVE ASSESMENT OF MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

1. Theoretical and practical basis for an integrative assessment of the marine quality.

2. Basic conceptual issues on the marine quality assessment and its relationship with the general features and some peculiarities of the marine environment will be presented.

3. The Water Framework Directive (WFD) and its implications for the marine quality assessment in EU will be presented. Framework for Community action in the field of water policy. Concepts, objectives, requirements and implementation phases of the WFD. Other important legislative references e.g., European Marine Strategy Directive.

4. Relevant aspects of general marine monitoring programs: ongoing projects and case studies.

Practical: Marine environmental quality indices

Field trip: Visit to AZTI, Pasaia

Bibliography

Basic bibliography

Delivered during the course