Tropical Marine Biology

Earn 3 - 4 credits in Tropical Marine Biology

Students will enroll in the Tropical Marine Biology course at Murdoch University.

During this short-term program, you can expect:

• A 10-day intensive field camp

• 15 hours of theory classes (lectures and videos taught in blocks)

• Two laboratory classes and computer workshops

• Theory classes (lectures and tutorials) will be presented at the Perth campus before the field camp. On your return to Perth, you will have time to complete field reports and presentations, and prepare for your final assessment.

You can reference the syllabus here.

Program eligibility: You must have completed at least two classes of animal or plant biology, with a focus on ecology.

Course components

• This course starts with a series of lectures and educational videos to get a physical and biogeographical background to Western Australian coral reefs, an introduction to Western Australian reef biodiversity and details of key biological and ecological processes of coral reefs.

• On the field trip, you’ll work as part of a group on a choice of topics. You will need to complete two projects over a period of three days each.

• To expand your Ningaloo Reef experience, you’ll join a wildlife interaction cruise complete with snorkeling activities on the reef. There’s also time to spend at your leisure, where you can enjoy a range of tourism activities in Coral Bay.

• You will also attend non-assessed lectures on data analysis and the Ningaloo Marine Park and other special lectures.

• Your laboratory classes and tutorials will address aspects of reef ecology and processes, including a mixture of biodiversity and techniques-based exercises.

• You will be assessed by a range of methods, including a theory exam at Murdoch University and tutorial participation, while your fieldwork will be assessed by a report and group presentations after the field camp.