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Marine Life Identification

AIM
To develop the member's ability to recognise and identify common marine species, and to encourage an interest in further study of the subject.

DURATION
Two days

ENTRY GRADE
Sports Diver

FACILITIES
A suitable classroom / laboratory with 'wet work' areas, for theory lessons. Appropriate teaching aids and if possible, microscopes for study of small specimens. A shore access dive site / shoreline nearby, for dives and shore line collections. Boats are not necessary other than for safety cover.

INSTRUCTORS
Chief Instructor to be qualified (to degree standard) in Marine Biology, or Biology with specialist knowledge of the subject. Other instructors and Dive Leaders to the satisfaction of the Chief Instructor. At least one member of the instructing team must be qualified to BSAC Advanced Diver standard to act as Dive Marshal.
Ratio - one Instructor / Dive Leader to every four students.

APPROVAL
Course Approval procedure applies.

QUALIFICATION
Course Certification will be issued.

SYLLABUS
The exact scope and contents of the syllabus may be varied to suit the course location. The Course could be run in freshwater, but obviously the sea gives a much wider scope for study. The syllabus given herewith is a suitable basis for development.

Day one

Assemble, Introductions, Administration

1. Classroom Lesson - Biological groupings - (60 mins)
  • Plant or Animal?
  • Classification and naming (phylum, class, genus, etc.)
  • 'Keys', reference books

2. Classroom Lesson - Marine Life - (90 mins)
  • A review of species found in the area
  • Marine plants: seaweeds
  • Marine animals: vertebrates, invertebrates
  • Common and scientific names

3. Classroom Lesson - How to study / collect Specimens - (30 mins)
  • Where to look, how to record
  • Aids to collecting small subjects

Break

4. Practical - Specimen Collections - (120 mins)
  • Study / identification / collection of species by diving or from shore-line

5. Classroom / Laboratory - Identification - (60 mins)
(or on shore)
  • Aids to identification
  • Identify / classify species collected
  • Return species to open water

6. Classroom - Open Forum - (30 mins)
  • Debriefing on day's activities
  • Plans for day two

Day Two

7. Classroom Lesson - The Marine Environment - (60 mins)
  • Adaptation of marine creatures to environmental conditions

8. Practical - Specimen Collections - (120 mins)
  • Study / identification / collection of species by diving or from shore-line

Break

9. Classroom / Laboratory - Identification - (60 mins)
(or on shore)
  • Identify / classify species collected
  • Return species to open water

10. Classroom Lesson - Man and the marine environment - (15 mins)
  • Effects of human interference with marine life
  • Conservation, Marine Conservation Society

11. Classroom - Open Forum - (30 mins)
  • Course debriefing
  • Issue Course Certification, sign QRBs
  • Disperse

Instructor debriefing


NOTES
  1. All diving activities must be conducted and marshalled in accordance with BSAC recommendations.
  2. During practical studies, avoid unnecessary disturbance / damage to marine life. Only creatures which are too small to identify 'in the field' should be collected for study later. Every effort should be made to keep them alive and to return them to open water within an hour or two of collection. To this end, different groups could be asked to collect different species, with everyone having a look back in the laboratory.


(c) 09/02. The British Sub-Aqua Club, Telford's Quay, South Pier Road, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire CH65 4FL
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Page last modified: 15th Dec 2006 - 17:03:28