1. komponenta

Lecture type	Total
Lectures	10
Seminar	10

COURSE OBJECTIVE: Marine Ecology encompasses an overview of the diversity, structure, and basic principles of functioning of marine biological communities and ecosystems. By mastering the material in this course, students acquire general knowledge about ecological relationships between marine benthic and pelagic organisms and their environment, specific terminology, and ecosystem functionality. Through seminars, students gain skills needed for critical analysis and interpretation of relevant scientific facts and develop the ability to apply ecological principles and concepts in marine protection and in understanding the importance of maintaining biological diversity in marine ecosystems, which is of exceptional importance in the light of global climate change.

SYLLABUS:

1. Characteristics of the sea as a living environment (physical, chemical, and geological properties), an overview of marine habitats, life forms in the sea and their ecological traits, abiotic factors, main biogeochemical cycles.
2. Reproduction and development of marine organisms (strategies and connections with ecological characteristics in the habitat), feeding of organisms and trophic relationships in the pelagic and benthic zones.
3. Overview of the main types of biotic ecological interactions, life communities in the world?s oceans and the Mediterranean.
4. Human impact on marine ecosystems ? global changes: heat waves, acidification, eutrophication, overfishing and disappearance of top predators, exploitation of energy resources ? recent research and protection programs.
5. Human impact on marine ecosystems ? local changes in the Adriatic Sea and the Mediterranean: invasive species, destruction of the coastal zone ? recent research and protection programs.

1. An introduction to marine ecology., Barnes, R. S. K., & Hughes, R. N., John Wiley & Sons. Ltd., Publication, Oxford., 1999.
2. Marine Biology, Function, Biodiversity, Ecology. 6th Edition, Levinton, J.S., Oxford Univ. Press, 2021.
3. Ekologija zajednica i ekosustava., Šolić, M, Golden marketing - Tehnička knjiga, Zagreb, 2018.
4. Ekologija populacija, Šolić, M, Institut za oceanografiju i ribarstvo, Split, 2014.