lök200 - Geo-Biology of the Coast (Complete module description)

Basic knowledge in Geology, Geomorphology, and Botany, comparable to the respective Bachelor modules in Environmental Sciences

Upon successful completion of the module students will gain:
Advanced knowledge of the most important marine, semiterrestrial and terrestrial ecosystems on the North Sea coast.
Advanced knowledge of erosion and transport processes of unconsolidated sediments as well as their sedimentation in terrestrial, coastal and marine areas.
Advanced skills in addressing sediments and in sampling.
Knowledge of the most important pollen types of the Northwest European flora, their chemical preparation and analysis of palynological samples as well as application of palynology in Palaeoecology, Palaeoclimatology, and as a dating method.
Knowledge of the most important diatoms (pelagic and benthic types) of the North Sea coast, skills in the chemical preparation and analysis of diatom samples as well as in the application of diatom research in Palaeoecology and facies addressing.

a) “Coastal biotopes and adjacent regions" - L: Flora and fauna of the most important ecosystems on the North Sea coast (sublittoral, Zostera meadows, salt marshes, woods, mires);
b) “Clastic sediments – Transport und sedimentation“ - L: Petrological cycle, weathering, transport, physical fundaments of sediment transport, aeolian, fluviatile and marine sediment transport;
c) “Biological methods of addressing facies – pollen and diatom analysis“ - LC: Application of coring techniques in the field, sampling, chemical preparation for pollen and diatom analysis, palynology and spore research of higher plants, mosses and ferns, diatom research, facies research in the coastal region

Bird, E. (2003): Coastal Geomorphology – an introduction. Wiley.
Zepp, H. (2004): Geomorphologie. UTB.
Thurman, H. & A. Trujillo (1999): Oceanography, Prentice Hall; Duff, D. (1997): Holmes’ Principles of Physical Geology.
Chapman & Hall.
Krammer, K. (1986): Kieselalgen, Kosmos.
Lang, G. (1994): Quartäre Vegetationsgeschichte Europas, Fischer.
Schäfer, A. (2005): Klastische Sedimente, Elsevier.

Additional literature will be announced during the module.

6 CP / L / LC / 2nd semester (FS/WP) Freund (L = optionally MM 16 or MM 16 b)

Before the end of the module

Written examination (40%)
Specialized Exercise (60%)