MARINE
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Academic
PADI non-diving specialty to bridge the knowledge gap of coral reef environment to provide professional divers with the ability to promote responsible dive practices among their clients and students.
PREREQUISITES
Diver route: - PADI Divemaster or Leadership-level (equivalent).
In addition to dive professions, this course may also prove valuable for:
• Marine park wardens and management personnel.
• Government, tourism, or environmental protection officials.
• Executives with water sports or dive operator associations.
• Ecotourism operators considering offering dive services.
• Nongovernmental organization personnel involved with marine tourism.
• Secondary and post-secondary teachers.
• Students considering a career in the dive industry.
• Elected officials from nations with coral reef resources.
Note: Training dives and PADI certificate will charge fees.
Contents
Four main units are the instructional objectives:
Unite One
The Ecology and Biology of Coral Reefs
Unite Two
What's Wrong With Coral Reefs . . . And What can be done about it
Unite Three
Marine Resource Management: The Dive Industry's Perspective
Unite Four
Sustainable Diving Practices
Unite 1: The Ecology and Biology of Coral Reefs
1. To define the term ecology.
2. To define symbiosis and the distinctions between its three forms.
3. To explain how energy flows through an ecosystem.
4. To state from which organisms corals are believed to have evolved.
5. To explain why taxonomists may have found it difficult to classify corals in the past.
6. To explain the role of coral reefs as nursery grounds for tropical marine organisms.
7. To explain why biological diversity is important in terms of energy flow and recovery from disturbance.
8. To explain what benefits coral reefs provide in combating human diseases.
9. To explain what benefits coral reefs provide for islands and coastal areas.
10. To explain the benefits coral reefs provide for tourism.
11. To describe how much of the sea bottom is comprised of coral reefs, and how they rank generally in terms of productivity and diversity.
12. To explain Darwin's theory of reef development and how it was verified.
13. To contrast Daly's theory of reef development to Darwin's and explain how both theories together provide a more complete explanation of how reefs form.
14. To describe the three types of coral reefs and their characteristics.
15. To explain what abiotic factors control and limit the distribution of coral reefs.
16. To list four factors that determine zonation and coral reef diversity.
17. To explain why disturbance, rather than stability, is thought to be important to reef ecology. To compare current and earlier theories of coral diversity.
18. To explain why zonation is thought to occur on coral reefs.
19. To describe the three primary zones that exist on most coral reefs.
20. To describe the structure and representative corals/organisms that occur in each zone.
21. To contrast the diversity of Atlantic versus Indo-Pacific coral reefs.
22. To contrast the physical characteristics between Atlantic and Indo-Pacific coral reefs.
23. To describe the anatomy of a coral polyp (labeling significant structures).
24. To identify the organisms referred to as zooxanthallae and describe their role in coral physiology.
25. To explain why bleaching occurs in corals and what is thought to cause it.
26. To contrast the differences between those coral species that are thought to function primarily as autotrophs and those thought to function primarily as heterotrophs.
27. To explain the role of mucus production in corals.
28. To explain the comparative advantages and disadvantages of sexual versus asexual reproduction.
29. To describe two forms of asexual reproduction in scleractinian corals, and their respective advantages.
30. To explain the comparative advantages and disadvantages of brooding versus broadcasting as reproductive strategies.
31. To define and explain Darwin's Paradox.
32. To explain the role macroalgae plays in coral reef ecology and the mechanisms it has evolved to prevent it from being carried away from the system.
33. To list several mechanisms coral reefs use to capture and retain nutrients.
34. To explain what avenues are available for resupplying nutrients to coral reefs.
35. To compare the gross versus the net productivity of coral reefs, and describe the implications of this relationship.
36. To explain mechanisms corals use to prevent faster growing forms from out-competing slower growing forms.
37. To list several organisms that prey on corals and explain their impact on reef ecology.
38. To explain the importance of grazing on reef ecology and what organisms are primarily responsible.
39. To explain how calcifying organisms, other than scleractinian corals, help maintain the reef's integrity.
40. To explain why unconsolidated calcareous material is important to the reef's structural integrity.
41. To explain the importance of open space within a coral reef, and what proportion this accounts for in the reef's composition.
42. To explain the role of bioerosion both in terms of its beneficial and harmful effects.
43. To list five phyla of organisms other than Cnidaria that are vital to the ecology of coral reefs and explain some of their functions.
44. To explain what theories have been offered for the diversity of coral reef fishes, and the geographic pattern of that diversity.
45. To explain why opportunism is now considered a more vital role in the trophic ecology of coral reef fishes than was once thought.
46. To explain what theories have been offered for the intense coloration of many coral reef fishes.
47. To describe how coral reef fishes have specialized as diurnal or nocturnal feeders, the advantages this provides and how predators have adapted to respond to this specialization.
48. To compare the advantages and disadvantages of carnivory versus herbivory in coral reef fishes.
49. To explain the ecological role and relative abundance of herbivorous fishes on coral reef ecology.
50. To describe the specialized adaptations and representative families of benthivorous coral reef fishes.
51. To explain the feeding behavior and list several representative families of planktivorous coral reef fishes.
52. To describe what fishes and other organisms are involved in "cleaning behavior," and what role this behavior serves in the reef's ecology.
53. To describe the relative abundance of carnivorous coral reef fishes, what impact this group has on the ecology of the reef and the four hunting strategies predators employ.
54. To contrast the differences between toxic and venomous fishes, list several representative families and describe the human health concerns for eating many coral reef fishes.
55. To describe several adaptations mangroves have made that enable them to thrive in coastal marine environments.
56. To explain the relationship of the mangal community to the coral reef ecology.
57. To list the four most common seagrasses found near coral reef ecosystems.
58. To explain the relationship of the seagrass community to the coral reef ecology.
Unite 2:
What's Wrong With Coral Reefs . . . And What Can Be Done About It:
1. To describe the worldwide status of coral reefs according to Wilkinson and the estimated rate of loss of coral reefs.
2. To describe the principle threats to coral reefs.
3. To list and explain the effects of four land-based activities that are detrimental to coral reefs.
4. To list and explain the impact of seven ocean-based activities that are detrimental to coral reefs.
5. To explain what detrimental effect tourism has on coral reefs.
6. To explain the possible detrimental effects human alteration of the atmosphere may have on coral reefs.
7. To list and explain the primary natural stresses to coral reefs.
8. To explain the term integrated coastal zone management and describe how this may be applied to coral reef ecosystems.
9. To explain the importance of community-based coral reef management.
10. To explain what is necessary for coral reefs to be developed sustainably, and what benefits might arise.
Unite 3:
Marine Resource Management: The Dive Industry's Perspective:
1. To define the term marine resource management and why it's sometime said to be a misnomer.
2. To explain why marine resource managers require more than pure scientific knowledge for decision-making.
3. To list four requirements for the maintenance of any natural resource.
4. To explain the ideal versus real impact marine tourism has on the marine environment.
5. To explain the "good news/bad news" aspect of divers' effect on coral reefs.
6. To list ten consistent findings from the research literature on divers' effect on coral reefs.
7. To list two inconsistent finding from the research literature on divers' effect on coral reefs.
8. To explain what role marine protected areas have in conserving marine resources (especially coral reefs).
9. To explain why there is reluctance to establish marine protected areas.
10. To contrast the reactive versus proactive approach to establishing marine protected areas.
11. To list and explain nine tools used in managing marine protected areas.
12. To define carrying capacity in terms of ecology and resource management.
13. To explain the three types of carrying capacity and how they interrelate.
14. To describe some outcomes of recent studies on diver carrying capacity on coral reefs and their implication for coral reef management.
15. To list and explain ten factors that determine diver carrying capacity on coral reefs.
16. To explain what role education plays in lessening damage to coral reef caused by divers.
Unite 4:
Sustainable Diving Practices:
1. To explain what factors/requirements are necessary to instill responsible environmental ethics among divers.
2. To contrast the attitude of guests versus customers and explain what implications it has in instilling responsible environmental ethics among divers.
3. To list seven guidelines for responsible interaction with marine wildlife.
4. To list three conditions necessary for appropriate wildlife interaction.
5. To describe 16 methods/considerations for supervising divers that minimize damage to coral reefs.
6. To describe 12 methods/considerations for improving diver buoyancy control.
7. To describe four techniques for improving training in buoyancy control.
8. To describe three techniques for improving training in coral reef ecology.
9. To describe the eight "take-home messages" to be emphasized when teaching coral reef ecology.
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Location: Online ZOOM
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