LIFS3130 Marine Biology (Fall 2014-2015)
Time/ Place: Tuesday and Thursday, 9:00-10:20 am in Room 2306
Intended Learning Outcome:
On successful completion of this course, students are expected to be able to:
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Describe in detail a diverse range of marine habitats and the organisms that
inhabit them.
Evaluate the extent to which a variety of environmental settings may influence
marine life, taking particular account of the interaction between marine organisms
and the environment.
Evaluate the extent to which biological adaptation and ecological processes
structure marine communities.
Identify potential resources from the seas and assess their use for and by humans.
Critically examine how marine ecological research projects are developed,
implemented and interpreted.
Course Format:
There will be Two 80-minute sessions per week, which will include lectures,
audiovisual presentations, and discussion periods.
Course Assessment (based on the following course activities and examinations)
Group project
The class will be divided into a number of groups (5 students per group) and each
group is required to give a presentation (7 mins of presentation and 3 mins of Q and A)
on group project that shall focus on one of marine habitats in Hong Kong. Project can
be a literature review or a field survey or a proposal on a particular marine habitat in
Hong Kong; marine habitats in Hong Kong shall include: rocky shore, sandy beach,
mudflat, mangrove, wetland, sea-grass bed, coral reserve, marine parks, marine
reserves, harbors, and marina.

Power point presentation (ppt) of group project: 20%
o 10% by course instructors
o 10% by class

Assessment of ppt presentations of other groups: 5%
Examinations
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 Midterm Examination: 25%
 Final Examination: 50%
Both will be in the format of MC and essay questions.
Course Instructors:
Course Director:
Prof Pei-Yuan Qian (Email: boqianpy@ust.hk, Tel: 2358 7331,
Room 5443 (L25/26))
Course Instructors: Prof Hongbin Liu (Email:liuhb@ust.hk, Tel: 2358-7341, Room:
5437 (L25/26))
Office hour:
Tuesday and Thursday: 14:00-15:00
Textbook:
Peter Castro & Michael E. Hubber (2013) Marine Biology, The 9th Edition, McGrawHill Education (Asia)
Major Reference:
James W. Nybakken (2005). Marine Biology: an ecological approach. Harper
Collins College publishers, New York. 6th Edition.
Jan A. Pechenik (2010). Biology of Invertebrates. 4th Edition, McGraw-Hill Book
Company,
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Tentative Lecture Outline and Schedule:
Lecture Topic
Instructor
Part 1: Introduction to Marine Environment
1)
2 Sept (Tue)
Introduction to Marine Environment
Qian
2)
4 Sept (Thu)
Physical and Chemical Oceanography
Qian
3)
9 Sept (Tue)
Mid-Autumn Festive
4)
11 Sept (Thu)
Biodiversity of Marine Life
Qian
Part 2: Introduction of Marine organisms
5)
16 Sept (Tue)
Porifera-Coelenterata-Annelida
Qian
6)
18 Sept (Thu)
Coral and Coral Reef Ecology
Qian
7)
23 Sept (Tue)
Coral-microbe symbiosis
Qian
8)
25 Sept (Thu)
Marine Mollusca and Shellfish farming
Qian
9)
30 Sept (Tue)
Arthropoda and Echinodermata
Qian
10)
2 Oct (Thu)
Public Holiday
11)
7 Oct (Tue)
Mid-term Exam
Qian
12)
9 Oct (Thu)
Marine Fishes and Fisheries
Liu
13)
14 Oct (Tue)
Marine Mammals
Liu
14)
16 Oct (Thu)
Microbial diversity, function and processes
Liu
15)
21 Oct (Tue)
Biogeochemical cycles in marine
ecosystems
Liu
16)
23 Oct (Thu)
Primary Producers (phytoplankton and
macroalgae) & Primary Productivity in
Ocean
Liu
17)
28 Oct (Tue)
Harmful Algal Blooms and Possible
Mechanisms
Liu
3
18)
30 Oct (Thu)
Zooplankton and planktonic food webs
Liu
19)
4 Nov (Tue)
Between tides
Liu
20)
6 Nov (Thu)
Intertidal habitats
Liu
21)
11 Nov (Tue)
Estuary and wetland Ecology
Liu
22)
13 Nov (Thu)
Subtidal Ecology and Kelp bed
Liu
23)
18 Nov (Tue)
Deep Sea Biology
Qian
24)
20 Nov (Thu)
Hydrothermal vents and cold seeps
Qian
25)
25 Nov (Tue)
Group presentation
Qian/Liu
26)
27 Nov (Thu)
Group presentation
Qian/Liu
4