Program Overview

Program Overview

The University of Copenhagen offers a Master's program in Biology, with a course titled "Marine Animal Diversity, Monitoring, and Habitats" (NBIK24001U).

Course Description

This course provides a broad knowledge of marine animal diversity, life history traits, and adaptions to the environment. It covers methods of field collection and monitoring, as well as the identification of Danish marine fish and invertebrates to species level.

Learning Outcomes

The course aims to equip students with the following knowledge, skills, and competences:

• Knowledge: Marine animal diversity, life history traits, and adaptions to the environment, methods of field collection and monitoring, and identification of Danish marine fish and invertebrates.
• Skills:
  • Describe the morphology, functional traits, and taxonomy of the main phyla and classes of marine animals.
  • Identify Danish marine fish and marine benthic invertebrates to the family, genus, and/or species level.
  • Use techniques for collection and identification of marine meiofauna, holo- and meroplankton, macrofauna, and megafauna.
• Competences:
  • Relate the density of individuals, species density, and species composition of specific benthic macrofauna to environmental and habitat conditions.
  • Choose the optimal and most sustainable collection device for a given type of benthic fauna survey.
  • Plan and perform a quantitative benthic macrofaunal investigation, including analysis and discussion of the results.

Course Details

• Volume: 2025/2026
• Credit: 7.5 ECTS
• Level: Full Degree Master
• Placement: Summer
• Schedule: 17-23 August 2026
• Course Capacity: 24
• Language: English

Teaching and Learning Methods

The course includes field collecting, identification, laboratory experiments, group work, student presentations, and lectures.

Assessment

• Type of Assessment: Continuous assessment
• Type of Assessment Details: The student will be evaluated for their active participation and performance during the course.
• Aid: All aids allowed
• Marking Scale: Passed/Not Passed
• Censorship Form: No external censorship
• Re-exam: 25 minutes oral examination in fauna identification, habitat relation, and life strategies.

Study Board and Contracting Departments

• Study Board: Study Board for the Biological Area
• Contracting Departments: Department of Biology, The Natural History Museum of Denmark
• Contracting Faculty: Faculty of Science

Course Coordinators and Lecturers

• Course Coordinators: Katrine Worsaae
• Lecturers: Katrine Worsaae (BIO), Peter Rask Møller (SNM), Jørgen Olesen (SNM), Martin Vinter Sørensen (DTU-Aqua), Grete Dinesen (DTU-Aqua)