Master’s degree1,500 h · Online · 11 modules

Master's in Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Conservation

This master's offers an in-depth look at how marine biodiversity is studied and protected at every level, from genes and species to habitats and whole ecosystems. You will learn to assess ecosystem health, identify cumulative threats and design effective conservation strategies, combining advanced marine ecology, taxonomic, functional and genetic diversity, monitoring technologies, marine protected areas, ecological restoration, governance and climate adaptation to lead research and management projects in the marine environment.

Duration1,500 h

ModeOnline

Start1 December

Modules11

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About the program

What is the Master's in Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Conservation?

This master's follows the logic of conservation science from diagnosis to action. You will begin with the levels of marine biodiversity, the main ecological domains and the concepts of resilience, functional redundancy and ecosystem services; study food webs, biotic interactions, population dynamics and keystone and engineer species; characterize taxonomic, functional and genetic diversity with morphological, molecular and bioinformatic methods, environmental DNA and metabarcoding; compare coral reefs, seagrass meadows, mangroves, deep-sea and polar ecosystems; analyze overfishing, pollution, warming, acidification, invasive species and cumulative pressures; design monitoring programs with indicators, drones, acoustics, ROVs, AUVs, GIS and species distribution models; plan marine protected areas, restoration and adaptive management; work with governance, conservation economics and integrated coastal management; build climate-smart strategies including blue carbon; and apply IUCN, CITES and CMS frameworks to threatened and invasive species.

What sets this master's apart: it is built around the ecosystem as the unit of conservation, rather than around the biology of individual organisms, so genetic, species and habitat diversity are always connected to function, threats and management decisions; it gives equal weight to the science of biodiversity and to the policy, economic and social tools needed to protect it; and it closes with a Final Project in which you diagnose a marine ecosystem, coastal area, focal species or conservation problem and design an evidence-based, monitorable conservation, restoration or adaptive management proposal.

Program typeMaster’s degree

ModeOnline

Duration1,500 hours

Modules11

Start1 December

Program highlights

Levels of marine biodiversity, resilience, functional redundancy and ecosystem services as a basis for conservation.
Taxonomic, functional and genetic diversity with molecular tools, bioinformatics, eDNA and metabarcoding.
Comparative analysis of coral reefs, seagrasses, mangroves, estuaries, seamounts, hydrothermal vents and polar ecosystems.
Cumulative threats: overfishing, pollution, noise, plastics, warming, acidification, deoxygenation and invasive species.
Monitoring with biodiversity indicators, drones, acoustics, ROVs, AUVs, GIS, distribution models and citizen science.
Marine protected areas, restoration, nature-based solutions, blue carbon, governance and threatened species programs.

Syllabus

Syllabus of the Master's in Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Conservation

11 modules. Select a module to see its content.

Module 1

Advanced foundations of marine biodiversity, the ecological structure of the ocean and the scientific basis for conserving complex marine systems

1.1. The concept of marine biodiversity and levels of biological organization, from genes and species to communities, habitats and ocean ecosystems
1.2. Evolution of marine life and the historical processes that have shaped the biological diversity of oceans, coastal seas and island systems
1.3. Main marine ecological domains: pelagic, benthic, coastal, deep-sea, polar, reef, estuarine and open ocean
1.4. Relationship between environmental heterogeneity, ecological connectivity and the spatial distribution of marine biodiversity at different scales
1.5. Physical, chemical and biological factors that regulate the structure and dynamics of marine communities in contrasting environments
1.6. Resilience, stability, functional redundancy and ecosystem services in assessing marine ecological value
1.7. Global patterns of richness, endemism, productivity and vulnerability in tropical, temperate and polar marine ecosystems
1.8. Interaction between biodiversity, biogeochemical processes and the functioning of the ocean-atmosphere-climate system
1.9. Main contemporary threats to marine biodiversity and the need for integrated conservation and restoration approaches
1.10. A systems approach to marine conservation as a discipline that integrates ecology, oceanography, management, public policy and socio-environmental governance

At this stage

136 hestimated workload

11 wkweeks at your pace

Module 2

Advanced marine ecology, biotic interactions and the functioning of communities and food webs in coastal and ocean ecosystems

2.1. Fundamentals of marine ecology applied to the analysis of populations, communities and biological assemblages in dynamic marine environments
2.2. Structure of marine food webs and the relationships between primary production, consumers, detritivory and the recycling of organic matter
2.3. Key ecological interactions: predation, competition, mutualism, facilitation and parasitism and their role in ecosystem organization
2.4. Dynamics of marine populations and the factors that regulate recruitment, survival, reproduction, migration and connectivity
2.5. Ecology of keystone species, ecosystem engineers and top predators and their influence on the stability and structure of marine systems
2.6. Community responses to natural disturbances, extreme events and cumulative human pressures in the ocean
2.7. Spatiotemporal variability of marine communities and mechanisms of succession, turnover and ecological reorganization
2.8. Relationships between habitat complexity, functional diversity and the capacity of ecosystems to respond to environmental change
2.9. Integration of local processes with regional and global drivers in shaping complex marine ecosystems
2.10. Applying advanced ecological knowledge to identify conservation priorities and adaptive management of the marine environment

At this stage

136 hestimated workload

11 wkweeks at your pace

Module 3

Taxonomic, functional and genetic diversity of marine organisms and methods for characterizing ocean biota

3.1. Main marine taxonomic groups and classification criteria for microorganisms, invertebrates, fish, reptiles, birds and marine mammals
3.2. Functional diversity and ecological traits as a tool to understand the role of species in ecosystem functioning
3.3. Genetic variability and population structure of marine organisms as a basis for evolutionary resilience and long-term conservation
3.4. Marine biogeography and species distribution patterns in relation to currents, barriers, latitudinal gradients and connectivity
3.5. Morphological, molecular and bioinformatic methods for species identification and the delimitation of conservation units
3.6. Environmental DNA, metabarcoding and genomic tools applied to biodiversity monitoring and the detection of rare or invasive species
3.7. Conservation of intraspecific diversity and the importance of isolated, endemic or locally adapted populations
3.8. Assessment of genetic vulnerability to overexploitation, fragmentation, pollution and climate change in marine populations
3.9. Integration of taxonomy, genetics and functional ecology to design more precise monitoring and conservation strategies
3.10. Applying advanced biological characterization to the design of policies, protected areas and marine restoration programs

At this stage

136 hestimated workload

11 wkweeks at your pace

Module 4

Marine habitats, coastal and deep-sea ecosystems and comparative analysis of their biodiversity, fragility and conservation value

4.1. Ecological and biogeographic characteristics of coral reefs, seagrass meadows, mangroves, salt marshes, beaches, estuaries and soft bottoms
4.2. Ecosystems of the continental shelf and slope, submarine canyons, seamounts, abyssal plains and hydrothermal vents
4.3. Physical and biological structure of polar and subpolar ecosystems and their role in regulating global climate and ocean productivity
4.4. Environmental gradients and ecological zonation in coastal, intertidal, subtidal and deep-sea systems
4.5. Differential vulnerability of marine habitats to warming, acidification, eutrophication, bottom trawling and pollution
4.6. Ecological, economic and sociocultural value of unique, highly diverse marine ecosystems
4.7. Ecological connectivity between coastal and ocean habitats and its importance for life cycles, migrations and flows of matter and energy
4.8. Methods to assess the conservation status, ecological integrity and degree of alteration of priority marine habitats
4.9. Spatial prioritization of marine habitats for protection, restoration and management based on risk and ecological representativeness
4.10. Building integrated conservation visions that recognize the diversity of marine habitats and their functional relationships

At this stage

136 hestimated workload

11 wkweeks at your pace

Module 5

Human threats, climate change and cumulative pressures on marine biodiversity and ecosystems

5.1. Overfishing, bycatch, seabed degradation and intensive resource extraction as critical pressures on marine biodiversity
5.2. Pollution by nutrients, hydrocarbons, metals, pesticides, underwater noise, plastics and microplastics in coastal and ocean environments
5.3. Ocean warming, acidification, deoxygenation and altered currents as marine expressions of global climate change
5.4. Ecological effects of coastal urbanization, port works, dredging, mass tourism and occupation of the shoreline
5.5. Introduction of invasive alien species through shipping, aquaculture and other human activities linked to global trade
5.6. Habitat fragmentation, loss of connectivity and functional collapse of marine systems under multiple simultaneous pressures
5.7. Synergies and cumulative effects of different threats on sensitive species, vulnerable habitats and key ecosystem processes
5.8. Tools to assess the exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity of marine ecosystems to global change
5.9. Future scenarios of marine biodiversity transformation and ecological risk assessment under different environmental pathways
5.10. Integrating threat analysis into evidence-based mitigation, adaptation and marine conservation strategies

At this stage

136 hestimated workload

11 wkweeks at your pace

Module 6

Monitoring, ecological assessment, biodiversity indicators and technologies for studying and tracking marine ecosystems

6.1. Fundamentals of marine ecological monitoring and design of observation programs at different spatial and temporal scales
6.2. Taxonomic, functional, genetic and ecosystem indicators to assess the biodiversity, integrity and health of the marine environment
6.3. Sampling methods for plankton, benthos, fish, megafauna, coastal habitats and deep-sea ecosystems in conservation studies
6.4. Use of remote sensing, drones, acoustic systems, ROVs, AUVs and autonomous platforms to monitor marine environments
6.5. Use of ecological databases, marine GIS and spatial analysis to map habitats, species and priority conservation areas
6.6. Modeling of species distribution, connectivity and environmental vulnerability to support marine planning
6.7. Integration of citizen science, community observation and participatory monitoring networks in coastal and marine conservation
6.8. Data quality control, ecological time series and trend analysis of biodiversity and environmental disturbance
6.9. Early warning systems for critical events such as coral bleaching, harmful blooms, mass mortalities and acute pollution
6.10. Building adaptive monitoring systems to support management decisions, impact assessment and evaluation of conservation measures

At this stage

136 hestimated workload

11 wkweeks at your pace

Module 7

Marine conservation tools, marine protected areas, ecological restoration and adaptive ecosystem management

7.1. Fundamentals of marine conservation and the shift from species protection to integrated ecosystem-based management
7.2. Design, types and ecological criteria of marine protected areas, reserves, biological corridors and other area-based conservation measures
7.3. Representativeness, connectivity, size, zoning and effectiveness of protected areas in conserving marine biodiversity
7.4. Adaptive management and operational governance of marine protected areas where conservation and resource use conflict
7.5. Ecological restoration of reefs, seagrass meadows, mangroves, salt marshes and degraded seabeds using active and passive techniques
7.6. Rehabilitation of populations and recovery of ecological functions through protection measures, threat control and habitat restoration
7.7. Integration of area-based conservation, species conservation and sector measures for fisheries, shipping and coastal use
7.8. Assessment of the ecological, social and compliance effectiveness of marine conservation and restoration programs
7.9. Nature-based solutions and the use of coastal ecosystems for climate adaptation, shoreline protection and socio-ecological resilience
7.10. Designing robust, measurable and adaptive conservation and restoration strategies for scenarios of accelerated environmental change

At this stage

136 hestimated workload

11 wkweeks at your pace

Module 8

Marine policy, governance, conservation economics and integrated management of coastal and ocean areas

8.1. Fundamentals of marine governance and the distribution of responsibilities across local, national, regional and international levels
8.2. International conventions, agreements and regulatory frameworks for the conservation of marine biodiversity and sustainable use of the ocean
8.3. Integrated coastal zone management and maritime spatial planning as tools to reconcile conservation and development
8.4. Marine ecological economics and valuation of ecosystem services to support public policy and conservation decisions
8.5. Economic, financial and market instruments for marine conservation, restoration and sustainable resource management
8.6. Participation of coastal communities, fishers, Indigenous peoples, tourism stakeholders and civil society in marine governance
8.7. Resolution of socio-environmental conflicts linked to protected areas, fisheries, infrastructure, marine energy and shoreline use
8.8. Environmental justice, intergenerational equity and inclusive conservation approaches in marine and coastal territories
8.9. Integration of science, public policy and decision-making in marine conservation under uncertainty and multisector pressure
8.10. Building effective marine governance frameworks to sustain biodiversity, human well-being and territorial resilience

At this stage

136 hestimated workload

11 wkweeks at your pace

Module 9

Global change, socio-ecological resilience and adaptation strategies for marine biodiversity conservation in the 21st century

9.1. Fundamentals of global change and how it manifests in highly sensitive oceans, coasts and marine ecological systems
9.2. Species range shifts, tropicalization, phenological changes and reorganization of marine communities under emerging climate scenarios
9.3. Ecological and socio-ecological resilience as a framework to understand response and reorganization capacity after severe disturbances
9.4. Ecosystem-based adaptation and management strategies that increase the adaptive capacity of habitats and coastal communities
9.5. Dynamic conservation and flexible planning in the face of climate uncertainty, distribution shifts and extreme environmental variability
9.6. Prospective scenarios and models to anticipate changes in biodiversity, ecosystem services and conflicts over ocean use
9.7. Transition to climate-smart marine management in conservation, fisheries, tourism and coastal planning policies
9.8. Integration of climate mitigation, blue carbon and protection of coastal ecosystems with high carbon sequestration and storage capacity
9.9. Design of resilience and adaptation indicators to evaluate the effectiveness of conservation measures under accelerated change
9.10. Building transformative marine conservation strategies that combine adaptation, restoration, governance and advanced scientific evidence

At this stage

136 hestimated workload

11 wkweeks at your pace

Module 10

Threatened species, invasive species and conservation of marine fauna

10.1. The IUCN Red List applied to marine species
10.2. The CITES and CMS conventions and migratory species
10.3. Species recovery plans
10.4. Conservation of cetaceans and sea turtles
10.5. Threatened sharks and rays
10.6. Seabirds and bycatch
10.7. Invasive alien species
10.8. Introduction pathways: ballast water and biofouling
10.9. Early detection and eradication
10.10. Conservation program for a species

At this stage

136 hestimated workload

11 wkweeks at your pace

Module 11

Final Project

11.1. Definition of the case study: the marine ecosystem, coastal area, focal species or conservation problem selected
11.2. Comprehensive ecological characterization of the chosen system through analysis of biodiversity, habitat, connectivity and ecosystem functions
11.3. Identification and assessment of threats, cumulative pressures and vulnerability factors affecting the subject of study
11.4. Design of the methodological framework for research, monitoring or intervention, selecting indicators, tools and scales of analysis
11.5. Integration of ecological, oceanographic, spatial, social and governance data to build a robust diagnosis of the system
11.6. Formulation of an evidence-based conservation, restoration or adaptive management proposal tailored to the local context
11.7. Assessment of the ecological, institutional, social and economic feasibility of the proposed strategy
11.8. Development of a monitoring scheme, success indicators and adaptation mechanisms to sustain the effectiveness of the proposal
11.9. Writing of the comprehensive technical report with the scientific, methodological, operational and governance rationale for the project
11.10. Presentation and defense of the final project and overall validation of the proposed biodiversity and marine ecosystem conservation strategy

At this stage

136 hestimated workload

11 wkweeks at your pace

Plan your pace

Duration and format of the Master's in Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Conservation

It is 1,500 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.

Hours per week

4 h30 h

With 12 h per week

months to finish

125 weeks

weeks in total

This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.

Faculty

Academic leadership and faculty

The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.

Dr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance

Eng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints

Capt. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator

Dr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory

Dr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator

Eng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator

Eng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line

Eng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration Coordinator

Objectives

Objectives of the Master's in Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Conservation

01Design and implement effective strategies for the sustainable management of marine resources, analyzing scientific and socioeconomic data to set sustainable catch limits that take into account the impact on ecosystems and local communities.

02Assess and mitigate the impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems, implementing sustainable fisheries management and coastal habitat restoration, monitoring key indicators of ecosystem health and integrating predictive climate models.

03Lead innovative research projects in marine ecology and conservation, defining ambitious hypotheses, designing rigorous studies and communicating findings in scientific forums to advance knowledge and conservation solutions.

04Develop and apply advanced techniques to restore degraded marine habitats, such as coral gardening and seagrass restoration, monitoring their effectiveness through biological and chemical indicators.

05Advise on and take part in the formulation of public policy for marine conservation, analyzing current legislation, identifying gaps and proposing changes based on scientific evidence and international best practice.

06Communicate scientific findings effectively to communities and decision-makers, adapting language and format, from papers and reports to presentations and policy briefs, to highlight the relevance and practical implications of the research.

Careers

Career opportunities after the Master's in Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Conservation

01Marine conservation project managerdesign, implementation and evaluation of projects to protect marine species and habitats.

02Marine environmental consultantenvironmental impact assessment of coastal and marine projects and advice to companies and public bodies.

03Marine protected area managerplanning and management of MPAs, ecosystem and species monitoring and control of activities.

04Researcher in marine ecology and biodiversitystudies on biodiversity, climate change and ecosystem conservation.

05Technical advisor in public administration or NGOsdevelopment of policies, regulations, conservation projects and advocacy campaigns.

06Sustainable aquaculture specialist or marine environmental educatorbiodiversity-friendly practices and outreach programs on marine conservation.

Frequently asked questions

Questions about the Master's in Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Conservation

The biodiversity and conservation of marine ecosystems: understanding how diversity is organized at the genetic, species and habitat levels, what threatens it and how to protect, restore and manage it.

The organism is not the center here; the ecosystem is. The program connects biodiversity to ecosystem function, cumulative threats, monitoring and the policy, economic and governance tools that conservation depends on.

No. It focuses on marine and coastal saltwater ecosystems, including estuaries, salt marshes and mangroves where marine and coastal processes meet.

Remote sensing, drones, acoustic systems, ROVs, AUVs and autonomous platforms, along with environmental DNA, metabarcoding, marine GIS and species distribution models.

Yes. A specific module covers the IUCN Red List, CITES and CMS, recovery plans for cetaceans, sea turtles, sharks, rays and seabirds, and the prevention, early detection and eradication of invasive species.

Online in a flexible format, letting you focus on the conservation areas that interest you most while you continue working.

Through practical work such as habitat assessments, monitoring designs, threat analyses and management plans, together with the Final Project.

A Final Project in which you characterize a marine ecosystem, coastal area, focal species or conservation problem, assess its threats and design an evidence-based conservation, restoration or adaptive management proposal with a monitoring plan.

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Online admission

Admission process

No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.

Entry requirements

Profile: aimed at marine biologists and environmental scientists, public administration and NGO professionals, environmental consultants, researchers and graduates in environmental science, biology, engineering or related fields who want to specialize in the conservation of marine ecosystems; a degree in biology, environmental science, marine science or a related field, or demonstrable professional experience in marine conservation or ecosystem management, is recommended.
Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
Technical resources: a computer with a stable internet connection, an up-to-date web browser and software for spreadsheets, GIS and statistical analysis.
Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.

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