Code number: OBLIGATORY. Level of Module/Course (postgraduate): POSTGRADUATE. Type of Module/Course: 1 st. Year of Study: Winter Semester.

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1 Module/Course Title: COASTAL ECOLOGY AND BIODIVERSITY Code number: Level of Module/Course (postgraduate): OBLIGATORY Type of Module/Course: POSTGRADUATE Year of Study: 1 st Semester: Winter Semester Number of ECTS allocated: 6 Νumber of teaching units: - Name of lecturer / lecturers : DEPARTMENT OF MARINE SCIENCES: Professor DROSOS KOUTSOUBAS, Associate Professor STELIOS KATSANEVAKIS, Professor MICHALIS KARYDIS, Professor GEORGIOS TSIRTSIS, Dr THANASIS EVAGELOPOULOS; HELLENIC CENTER FOR MARINE RESEARCH: Research Director Dr C. DOUNAS, Principal Researcher Dr CH. ARVANITIDIS; FISHERIES RESEARCH INSTITUTE: Principal Researcher Dr S. ORFANIDIS Content outline ( words): The course focuses to the study of the basic structural and functional relationships within and among living populations and their physical-chemical environments in coastal marine ecosystems (1 st part of the course) as a prerequisite in any approach of Integrated Coastal Zone Management. Emphasis has evolved toward understanding the rates and controls on ecological processes that govern short- and long-term events, including population growth and survival, primary and secondary productivity and community dynamics and stability. Furthermore the students are educated (2 nd part of the course) on issues related to marine biodiversity and the impacts to it from various stressors such as overfishing, habitat destruction, and marine pollution, climate change. The course focuses to the study of the Mediterranean Sea with a particular emphasis to the Greek Seas. The course is accompanied by Laboratoty exercises and Field trips with the E/V AMPHITRITE of the Department in coastal ecosystems, as well as training in analyses of ecological data by means of particular software (e.g. PRIMER, BRODGAR, ESTIMATES, AMBI). Learning outcomes ( words): The student is qualified with basic knowledge on the different ecosystems of the marine ecosystems which have a series of characteristics that differentiate them from the terrestrial ones, whereas the organisms they host play a key role in the biogeochemical processes which are vital for the planet Earth. The over-exploitation of the marine biological resources especially over the

2 last decades not only leads to a dramatic collapse but has a side effect on the biodiversity loss (certain species are already extinct, while other are critically endangered). A basic aim of the course is to offer to the students all information necessary for a deep knowledge of the ecosystem functioning and the diversity of the marine biota, thus leading them to understand those phenomena which are drivers for the observed spatio-temporal diversity patterns in the coastal marine environment. The course is organized in such a way so the students can obtain appropriate experience regarding methodologies and techniques related to diversity assessment as well as the major environmental issues affecting marine diversity (e.g. impacts from anthropogenic activities, climate change and alien species biological invaders, threatened species, EU priority Ecotopes). The students are also experienced in the legislation and policies related to the conservation of the marine ecosystems on a National, European and International level. During the course the active participation of the students in the lectures is pursued through an interactive communication (e.g. live review of concepts on a weekly basis, critical thinking essays, obligatory homework based on related scientific papers in International Journals and public presentation). The variety of means each student uses in the lectures and the field work strengthens their ability to find quickly and use successfully data related to their work (e.g. literature documents, related documents, web resources). Furthermore, there is equilibrium among activities in the University class and the homework therefore students are capable in multidimensional approaches and critical thinking as well as effective management of available time. The content of the lectures and the exercises in the course is analytically presented below: 1 st Thematic Round of Courses 12-22/10/2015 (Dept., Class BIODIV ) Thematic Content of Lecture Lecture Speaker BASIC PRINCIPLES OF ECOLOGY INTRODUCTION TO THE COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS: Basic principles that underlie the organization of marine communities and govern their behavior, Factors controlling population growth and stability, quantifying interactions among populations that lead to persistent communities, Coupling of communities to form viable ecosystems, Flow of energy and cycling of materials, Processes of Photosynthesis and Re-mineralization of organic matter and nutrients, Primary production and productivity, Secondary production, Ecosystem zoning of the Marine Environment. LIFE IN THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT COASTAL COMMUNITIES & BIODIVERSITY IN THE COASTAL ENVIRONMENT: Benthic domain: Intertidal ecosystems and communities, Continental Shelf and communities, Pelagic Zone and communities, Trophic guilds of marine organisms, Basic concepts of Biogeography (major biogeographic categories), Definitions of diversity, Taxonomic, Phylogenetic and Functional; α-, β- and γ- diversity TRANSITIONAL WATER ECOSYSTEMS: Origin and Typology of Transitional Water ecosystems, Abiotic environment, Energy flow, Pelagic and Benthic organisms, Fish and Bird fauna, Biological diversity and Bio-communities, Functional groups, Organisms and abiotic environment interactions. Distribution patterns of benthic and pelagic communities, Goods and Services (Fisheries Aquaculture Salt production): Practices, Problems and Management issues in TWE. ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT IN TRANSITIONAL WATER ECOSYSTEMS: Natural and Anthropogenic Disturbance in TWE and Methods of Assessment (uni- and multivariate analyses, Diversity Indices, ABC Curves, Geometric classes of size and abundance) in Mediterranean TWE. Professor G. TSIRTSIS Dept. MODERN ECOLOGICAL APPROACHES - FROM DISTRIBUTION PATTERNS TO FUNCTIONAL PROCESSES: Dynamic Systems, Statistical Analysis vs Numerical Models, Basic characteristics of numerical models. The VISSIM Model, Exponential distribution, Species antagonism: Lotka-Voltera Model, Population-Factor Models, Monod equation and the Minima Law, Phenomenon of Invansion, Deterministic and Stochastic Models. Associate Professor S. KATSANEVAKIS Dept. BIOLOGICAL INVADERS IN THE COASTAL MARINE ECOSYSTEMS: Biology and Ecology of Allochthonus (Alien) species in the marine environment. Management of Alien species in different case studies in the Mediterranean and European ecosystems. Timetable 13/10/ st Lecture 14/10/ nd Lecture 15/10/ nd Lecture 16/10/ th Lecture 17/10/ th Lecture 20/10/ th Lecture

3 2 nd Thematic Round of Courses 29/10/ /12/2015 (Dept., Tele-Conference Class) Thematic Content of Lecture Lecture Speaker AQUACULTURE AND MARINE ENVIRONMENT INTERRACTIONS: Ecological Assessment of Marine Environment in open and close coastal ecosystems, Classic Diversity Indices vs Phylogenetic Diversity Indices, Distribution Funnels, Functional and Biogeographic Traits THREATS AND ANTHROPOGENIC ACTIVITIES AFFECTING COASTAL MARINE BIODIVERSITY: Pollution (domestic effluents, heavy metals, oil hydrocarbons, etc) and impact on benthic communities. WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE (WFD 2000) & BIOTIC INDICES: Coastal and Catchment Areas Water Bodies, Habitat types EUNIS System, Quality Element Descriptors, Ecological Condition, Ecological Quality Ratio, Biotic indices (e.g. BENTIX, AMBI), Case Studies in Mediterranean Coastal Waters. Professor M. KARYDIS Dept. PLANKTON ECOLOGY AND ASSESSMENT OF ECOLOGICAL QUALITY IN COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS: Composition and dynamics of Plankton communities in coastal ecosystems, Eutrophication and Assessment studies, Harmful Algal Blooms. Professor G. TSIRTSIS Dept. MODERN ECOLOGICAL APPROACHES - FROM DISTRIBUTION PATTERNS TO FUNCTIONAL PROCESSES: Species Abundance Distribution, Lognormal Distribution, Niche Distribution Models, Zipf- Mandelbrot Model, Applications in Phytoplankton and Macroalgae Assemblages in Coastal Waters of the Greek Seas and the Mediterranean. POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA: International, European and National Policies and Practices for biodiversity conservation (Convention for the Biodiversity Rio, 1992; Habitats Directive 92/43, Barcelona Convention, National Law (NL) 1650/86 for the Environment Protection, NL3937/11 for Biodiversity Conservation) and Policies and Practices for the sustainable development of the coastal environment (Marine Protected Areas and Artificial Reefs), Case Studies in the Mediterranean Sea. Associate Professor S. KATSANEVAKIS Dept. MEDITERRANEAN MARINE STRATEGIES FOR THE ENVIRONMENT: Marine Strategy Framework Directive - MSFD 2008 & MARINE SPATIAL PLANNING FOR PROTECTED AREAS (MSP 2014): Case studies in the Mediterranean and European ecosystems. Principal Researcher Dr S. ORFANIDIS FISHERIES RESEARCH INSTITUTE (F.R.I. Nea Peramos, Kavala) BENTHIC MACROPHYTES AS BIOINDICATORS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN COASTAL ENVIRONMENT (WFD 2000/60, HABITAT Directive - 92/43, MSFD 2008): Theory and Actions for Bioindicators and Biotic Indices, Application of ΕΕΙ, Cymoskew and MATECS Indices as ecological assessment and management tools in the coastal Mediterranean environment. Research Director Dr C. DOUNAS HELLENIC CENTER FOR MARINE RESEARCH (H.C.M.R.) DIVERSITY PATTERNS OF COMMUNITIES IN THE BENTHO-PELAGIC DOMAIN OF THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA or Principal Researcher Dr C. ARVANITIDIS HELLENIC CENTER FOR MARINE RESEARCH (H.C.M.R.) LIFEWATCH: A MODERN TOOL FOR RECORDING OF BIODIVERSITY PATTERNS IN THE COASTAL MEDITERRANEAN ENVIRONMENT 29/10/ th Lecture 05/11/ th Lecture 12/11/ th Lecture 19/11/ th Lecture 26/11/ th Lecture 05/12/ th Lecture 12/12/ th Lecture 17/12/ th Lecture *: In the 2 nd Thematic Round of Courses scientists from Academic Universities and Research Institutes are invited to present their research effort on the ecology of coastal ecosystems. Till now apart the aforementioned colleagues the following researchers have contributed to the course: Professor A. TSELEPIDES (University of Piraeus), Principal Researcher Dr M. SYMPOURA (Institute of Oceanography, HCMR), Research Director Dr A. ZENETOS (Institute of Biological Resources, HCMR) L. SOURBES (National Marine Park of Zakynthos), Professor A. NICOLAIDOU (Kapodestrian University of Athens).

4 3 nd Thematic Round of Courses 25/01/ /01/2016 (Dept., MSc Computer Lab. Class) SEMINAR EXERCISES FOR ANALYSIS OF ECOLOGICAL DATA Content of Seminar Exercises Lecturer Dr A. EVAGELOPOULOS INTRODUCTION TO THE PRIMER SOFTWARE SIMILARITY COEFFICIENTS Introduction and practical exercise in basic statistical analyses in: (a) data input and analyses of PRIMER, (b) Similarity coefficients. BIODIVERISTY ESTIMATION TECHNIQUES WITH THE PRIMER & ESTIMATES SOFTWARE Introduction and practical exercise in basic statistical techniques for diversity assessment (e.g. diversity indices, species richness estimates) with the PRIMER & ESTIMATES software. MULTIVARIATE TECHNIQUES IN COMMUNITY ANALYSES WITH THE PRIMER SOFTWARE Introduction and practical exercise in multivariate community analyses techniques (CLUSTER, NMDS and ANOSIM) with the PRIMER software. MULTIVARIATE TECHNIQUES IN COMMUNITY ANALYSES WITH THE PRIMER SOFTWARE: RELATE, 2 nd STAGE MDS & ABC Curves Introduction and practical exercise in multivariate community analyses techniques (RELATE, 2nd STAGE MDS & ABC Curves) with the PRIMER software. MULTIVARIATE TECHNIQUES IN COMMUNITY ANALYSES WITH THE BRODGAR SOFTWARE: CCA Introduction and practical exercise in multivariate community analyses techniques (CCA) with the BRODGAR software. ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT TECHNIQUES IN COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS WITH BIOTIC INDICES Ecological Assessment Techniques according to WFD/2000 with different biotic indices (ΒΕΝΤΙΧ & ΑΜΒΙ) with specific software for macrofauna species. Time-Shedule 25/01/2016, 2hrs 25/01/2016, 2hrs 26/01/2016, 2hrs 26/01/2016, 2hrs 27/01/2016, 2hrs 27/01/2016, 2hrs Prerequisites (max 50 words): There are no official prerequisites for the attendance of the course. The process of graduate student selection should ensure that they are equipped with the ability to successfully attend the course. Recommended Reading: a) Basic Textbooks (up to 3): (the textbooks-pdf Format are provided in the Dept. Server as well as in the E-class Platform) 1) ECOLOGY OF COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS (Notes for the Postgraduate Students KOUTSOUBAS D., 2009, 110 pp.). 2) PLANKTON COMMUNITIES-EUTROPHICATION (Notes for the Postgraduate students KARYDIS M., 2006, 40pp.). b) Additional References (up to 10): indicative literature suggested for reading (the majority of which is provided in the Dept. Server as well as in the E-class Platform) 1) KOUTSOUBAS D., Marine Biodiversity and Sustainable Development in the Mediterranean as an axis for Environmntal Education. In: Environmental Education Kaila M, Theodoropoulou H., Dimitriou A., Xsanthakos. & N. Anastasatos (eds), Chapter III, 57, pp ) SIMBOURA N. ORFANIDIS S. & A. ZENETOS, Ecological Status and Trends. In: SoHelME, State of the Hellenic Marine Environment, Papathanasiou V. & A. Zenetos (eds), H.C.M.R. Publications, 360 pp, Chapter VI, VI.5, pp ) KOUTSOUBAS D., Marine Biodiversity in the Mediterranean: Spatio-Temporal Variations, Interactions with Human Activities and Initiatives for Conservation, Educational Notes, Summer

5 School DYNAMICS & MANAGEMENT of the MEDITERRANEAN MARINE ENVIRONMENT, Zakynthos Island, Greece, August 2012, 18 pp. 4) SOURBES L. & D. KOUTSOUBAS, Marine Protected Areas as a tool for Ecosystem Conservation and Sustainable Development: the case of the National Marine Park of Zakynthos, Educational Notes, Summer School DYNAMICS & MANAGEMENT of the MEDITERRANEAN MARINE ENVIRONMENT, Zakynthos Island, Greece, August 2012, 16 pp. 5) KATSELIDIS K. & D. KOUTSOUBAS, Ecotopes of Community Interest and Priority and Endangered Species. Educational Notes, Summer School DYNAMICS & MANAGEMENT of the MEDITERRANEAN MARINE ENVIRONMENT, Zakynthos Island, Greece, August 2012, 20 pp. 6) THESSALOU-LEGAKI M. & A. LEGAKIS, Conservation of the Hellenic Marine Biodiversity. In: SoHelME, State of the Hellenic Marine Environment, Papathanasiou V. & A. Zenetos (eds), H.C.M.R. Publications, 360 pp, Chapter VI, VI.5, pp ) HEIP C. et al., Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning. Printbase, Dublin, Ireland, ISSN , 92 pp. 8) BIODIVERSITY: An introduction (Gaston & Spicer, Scientific Editing in Greek: Chintiroglou CH. & D. Vafidis, UNIVERSITY STUDIO Press, Thessaloniki, 242 pp.) Learning Activities and Teaching Methods (max 100 words): The attendance of the lectures and the relative exercises, in an interactive approach with the instructor, are basic axes for the study of the course. The additional essay by the students and its public presentation in the framework of the course lectures further strengthens towards a better understanding of the basic concepts of ecology in coastal ecosystems, while it is also a basic motive for the students to further exploit their knowledge through search of relative web sites and text-books provided by the University library. The instructor is in close collaboration with the students in every step of the course providing assistance and appropriate guidelines for the evaluation, analysis and compilation of available scientific information. All the educational material of the course (i.e. Power Point lectures, Textbooks, relative scientific literature) is available to the student through the Server of the Dept. and the E-class Platform. Assessment/Grading Methods (max 100 words): In the end of the Academic Semester the students are obliged to give written exams both for the Lectures and the Exercises theory. The final mark is a combination of: a) the written exams regarding the theory (70% of the total mark) and b) the compilation of a scientific essay - based on scientific papers in International peer review Journals (SCI) - (30% of the total mark). Language of Instruction: GREEK Μode of delivery (face-to-face, distance learning): Face-to-face interaction between the lecturer and the students, during the 1 st and the 3 nd Thematic Round of the Course. In addition, full use of the E-class Platform asynchronous and BBB synchronous teaching system ensures easy access to notes and supplementing material since the start of the course and access to the lecture slides on a weekly basis during the 2 nd Theamtic Round of the Course.