Marine Connections: from Seagrasses to Cetaceans

Summary

This one day course delivered as two online sessions across two days aims to provide participants with the skills and understanding needed to recognise and identify salt tolerating plants, marine organisms, marine mammals and the complex connections and relationships that exist in the marine world. Through understanding of these relationships and connections we can identify threats, issues and potential solutions towards restoration of this precious habitat. This is relevant to marine ecologists or anyone who volunteers or works within the marine environment.

Description

Key areas to be covered are recognition of common UK coastal plant species, adaptations and the different habitats in which they grow. We will also look at the threat that non-native, invasive plant species pose to native biodiversity. The course will also cover the importance of seagrasses as the ‘lungs of the sea’, and also algae and phytoplankton for climate regulation, carbon capture and oxygen production. We will cover the marine food chain from primary consumers up to apex predators, exploring the importance of monitoring and recording apex predators as visible signs of ocean health. As part of this, we will look at identification, ecology and adaptations of UK seal and cetacean species and the threats that they face. Participants will also gain an understanding of the laws surrounding the marine environment.

Delivery: The course will be delivered online via Zoom as an illustrated talk with examples, built in quizzes and with ample opportunity to ask questions throughout the sessions.

Target Audience: This training is suitable for beginners and relevant to ecologists, conservation managers and biodiversity officers to understand the importance of the marine environment and the complex relationships and connections that exist within it from primary producers up to apex predators.

Who Should Attend?

Land managers, local authority ecologists, conservation officers and licensing staff within SNCOs or NGOs, students, graduates, ecological consultants, environmental managers, wardens, rangers

Knowledge Level

Beginner

Prior Knowledge

No Prior knowledge required

Learning Outcomes

• Identify and understand adaptations of coastal plant species
• Understand the importance of the marine environment to climate regulation, carbon capture and oxygen production
• Understand the marine food chain
• Identify common UK marine mammals and recognise the importance of monitoring apex predators
• Understand laws relating to the marine environment
• Understand threats to marine biodiversity

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