Marine Biodiversity

After the successful completion of the course, students should be able to:

• Understand the concept of marine biodiversity at all levels (genetic, species, ecological)

• Understand spatial and temporal patterns of biodiversity

• Understand the value of biodiversity and natural capital, and the concept of ecosystem services

• Understand the principles of the Convention of Biological Diversity and its implementation

• Understand the specific characteristics of Mediterranean marine biodiversity

• Comprehend the effectiveness and necessity of marine protected areas

• Understand the main human threats of marine biodiversity

• Combine information from various sources to analyze a topic in the field of marine biodiversity

• Search articles in international scientific journals

• Draft a scientific manuscript on a marine biodiversity topic and present it in public utilizing communication media  

• Search for, analysis and synthesis of data and information, with the use of the necessary technology

• Working independently

• Respect for the natural environment

• Production of free, creative and inductive thinking

The course includes the following topics:

• The concept and components of biodiversity

• Genetic biodiversity

• Species biodiversity

• Ecological biodiversity

• Spatial and temporal patterns of biodiversity, extinctions, mapping and gradients of biodiversity

• Valuation of biodiversity, natural capital, ecosystem services

• Conservation biology, threats for marine biodiversity

• Marine protected areas, systematic conservation planning

• Mediterranean biodiversity

• Primack RB, Αριανούτσου Μ, Δημητρακόπουλος Π, 2017. Βιολογία της Διατήρησης – Μια Εισαγωγή, Εκδόσεις University Studio Press.

• Gaston K.J., Spicer J.I., 2008. Biodiversity an Introduction, 2nd University Studio Press.

• Pianka ER, 2006. Evolutionary Ecology.

• 'MARINE BIODIVERSITY' (Koutsoubas D., Notes for the Undergraduate Students of the Dept. Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, 2009, 98 pp.).

• Hey J, 2001. The mind of the species problem. TRENDS in Ecology & Evolution 16(7): 326-329

• Spalding et al. 2007. Marine ecoregions of the world: a bioregionalization of coastal and shelf areas. BioScience 57(7): 573-583

• Liquete C, Piroddi C, Drakou EG, Gurney L, Katsanevakis S, Charef A, Egoh B, 2013. Current status and future prospects for the assessment of marine and coastal ecosystem services: a systematic review. PLoS ONE 8(7): e67737.

• Katsanevakis S, Zenetos A, Belchior C, Cardoso AC, 2013. Invading European Seas: assessing pathways of introduction of marine aliens. Ocean and Coastal Management 76: 64–74.

• Katsanevakis S, Wallentinus I, Zenetos A, Leppäkoski E, Çinar ME, Oztürk B, Grabowski M, Golani D, Cardoso AC, 2014. Impacts of marine invasive alien species on ecosystem services and biodiversity: a pan-European review. Aquatic Invasions 9(4): 391–423.