AB-320 Arctic Marine Zooplankton (10 ECTS)
ID:
AB-320
CREDITS:
10 ECTS
COURSE PERIOD:
Autumn semester (August - September). Next course in 2024.

Hauling of zooplankton net on the AB-320 course cruise. Photo: Malin Daase.
Grade: | Letter grade (A through F) |
Course Cost: | NOK 2000-2400,- (10-12 days x NOK 200 per overnight stay) |
Course Capacity Min/Max: | 9/18 students (AB-320/820 in total) |
Language of instruction: | English |
Examination support material: | Bilingual dictionary between English and mother tongue |
Course requirements:
Enrolment in a master programme in biology and knowledge similar to AB-202 Marine Arctic Biology.
Academic content:
The students will gain insight into the taxonomy, biogeography, and ecology of the main zooplankton species in Svalbard waters and the polar basin North of Svalbard. The course has a special emphasis on hands-on identification of zooplankton as well as the understanding of processes important for understanding the Arctic ecosystem.
Lectures deal with identification of zooplankton species, life history traits of Arctic zooplankton, trophic interactions, and vertical migration (both seasonal and diel). The practical fieldwork will be designed by the teachers and implemented into the course. It will vary from year-to-year depending on selection of research projects by the lecturers. During the course, we will conduct univariate and multivariate staistical analysis of zooplankton and oceanographical data.
Learning outcomes:
Upon completing the course, the students will:
Knowledge
- have thorough knowledge of common Arctic marine zooplankton species found in Svalbard waters, and the oceanographic and ecological interactions that determine their spatial and temporal abundance patterns
- understand food-web interactions in the pelagic zone, how zooplankton communities impact ecosystem function, and the impacts of climatic change and human activities on zooplankton community patterns.
Skills
- be capable of operating common sampling gears for zooplankton, and treating/processing zooplankton samples
- hold skills gained by practical experience in the use of acoustics for detecting and analyzing biomass and movements of biomass
- be able to treat and interpret zooplankton and oceanographical data.
General competences
- have the ability to discuss scientific questions
- have the ability to search for, critically read and extract relevant information from scientific literature
- use information from literature, lecture material, and shipboard experience to evaluate hypotheses about Arctic marine zooplankton
- have developed skills related to teamwork (practical in the field and in the lab).
Learning activities:
The course extends over 5 weeks including compulsory safety training, and is run in combination with AB-820.
One-week theoretical introduction and preparation of field activities will be followed by a two-week research cruise. During this cruise, sampling will be conducted in different localities around Svalbard (fjord and off-shelf). Week 4 will contain lab exercises focused on species identification and other relevant analysis of the collected material, and week 5 will be reserved for writing the lab report and preparing for the exam.
Summary
- Total lecture hours: 40 hours.
- Laboratory work/exercises/seminars: 60 hours.
- Scientific cruise: Ca. 2 weeks
Compulsory learning activities:
- Field excursions and technical report.
- All compulsory learning activities must be approved in order to sit the exam.
Assessment:
Method | Duration |
Percentage of final grade
|
Practical exam | 20 % | |
Written exam | 5 hours | 80 % |
All assessments must be passed in order to pass the course.
Student life

