COURSE UNIT TITLE

: MARINE BENTHOS

Description of Individual Course Units

Course Unit Code Course Unit Title Type Of Course D U L ECTS
CDK 5041 MARINE BENTHOS ELECTIVE 2 1 0 7

Offered By

Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences

Level of Course Unit

Second Cycle Programmes (Master's Degree)

Course Coordinator

PROFESSOR DOCTOR ŞERMIN AÇIK ÇINAR

Offered to

MARINE LIVING RESOURCES
MARINE LIVING RESOURCES

Course Objective

The main objectives of the lecture are to understand the definition of the benthic zonation, to learn sampling and sorting methods of benthic samples, to provide an indepth understanding of the bio-ecological features of benthic invertebrates, to explain the impact of pollution on benthic invertebrates and to make a comment about the ecosystem quality with the use of benthic indices.

Learning Outcomes of the Course Unit

1   Explain general structures of benthic area
2   Learn sampling and sorting methods of benthic samples
3   Explain feeding and reproduction features of benthic invertebrates
4   Understanding the role of benthic organisms in food chain
5   Define bio-ecological properties of benthic groups (Porifera, Cnidaria, Ctenophora, Platyhelminthes, Aschelminthes, Annelida, Arthropoda, Mollusca and Echinodermata)
6   Interpret the impact of pollution on benthic organisms
7   Understanding of the importance and use of benthic invertebrates in biological monitoring studies
8   Interpret about benthic quality status with the use of biotic indices

Mode of Delivery

Face -to- Face

Prerequisites and Co-requisites

None

Recomended Optional Programme Components

None

Course Contents

Week Subject Description
1 Description of benthos; Ecological zones of benthic area
2 Sampling and sorting methods of benthic samples
3 Benthic communities; Relationships of benthic organisms with substratum; The importance of benthic organisms in food chain
4 Feeding of benthic invertebrates
5 Reproduction of benthic invertebrates
6 Bio-ecological properties of benthic invertebrates (Porifera, Cnidaria and Ctenophora)
7 Mid-Term Exam
8 Bio-ecological properties of benthic invertebrates (Platyhelminthes, Aschelminthes and Annelida)
9 Bio-ecological properties of benthic invertebrates (Arthropoda)
10 Bio-ecological properties of benthic invertebrates (Mollusca and Echinodermata)
11 The impact of pollution on benthic organisms
12 The importance and use of benthic invertebrates in biological monitoring studies
13 Benthic biotic indices
14 Presentation of term work

Recomended or Required Reading

Barnes, R. D., 1968. Invertebrate Zoology, Saunders company, Philadelphia, London, Toronto. 820 pages.
Borja, A.; J. Franco & V. Pérez, 2000: A marine biotic index to establish the ecological quality of soft bottom benthos within European estuarine and coastal environments. Marine Pollution Bulletin 40(12): 1100-1114.
Demirsoy, A., 1998. Yaşamın Temel Kuralları (Omurgasızlar), Cilt 2, Kısım 1, Metaksan A. Ş. Ankara. 1210 sayfa.
Holme N.A. & A.D. McIntyre. 1971. Methods for the study of Marine Benthos, Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford and Edinburgh, London. 137 p
Pechenic, A. J., 1996. Biology of the Invertebrates, Wm. C. Brown Publishers. 554 pages.
Simboura N, Zenetos, A, 2002: Benthic indicators to use in Ecological Quality classification of Mediterranean soft bottom marine ecosystems, including a new Biotic Index. Mediterranean Marine Science, 3/2: 77-111.

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods

Lecture + Assignment

Assessment Methods

SORTING NUMBER SHORT CODE LONG CODE FORMULA
1 MTE MIDTERM EXAM
2 ASG ASSIGNMENT
3 FIN FINAL EXAM
4 FCG FINAL COURSE GRADE MTE * 0.30 +ASG * 0.20 +FIN * 0.50
5 RST RESIT
6 FCGR FINAL COURSE GRADE (RESIT) MTE * 0.30 + ASG * 0.20 + RST * 0.50


Further Notes About Assessment Methods

None

Assessment Criteria

Mid-Term Exam %30 (ÖÇ1, ÖÇ2, ÖÇ3, ÖÇ4)
Homework %20 (ÖÇ5)
Final Exam %50 (ÖÇ1, ÖÇ2, ÖÇ3, ÖÇ4, ÖÇ5, ÖÇ6, ÖÇ7, ÖÇ8)

Language of Instruction

Turkish

Course Policies and Rules

1. Termwork assignments must be delivered at the beginning of the lesson on the date they are due.
2. Students are required to participate 70% of this course.

Contact Details for the Lecturer(s)

sermin.acikcinar@deu.edu.tr

Office Hours

To be announced.

Work Placement(s)

None

Workload Calculation

Activities Number Time (hours) Total Work Load (hours)
Lectures 12 2 24
Tutorials 12 1 12
Preparations before/after weekly lectures 12 5 60
Preparation for midterm exam 1 15 15
Preparation for final exam 1 30 30
Preparing assignments 1 30 30
Midterm 1 2 2
Final 1 2 2
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours) 175

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

PO/LOPO.1PO.2PO.3PO.4PO.5PO.6PO.7PO.8
LO.154545553
LO.245435553
LO.352455553
LO.454545553
LO.543545555
LO.652545554
LO.753555554
LO.852555555