Professional Diploma in Marine Fauna and Flora Studies
This professional diploma immerses you in ocean biodiversity, from planktonic microorganisms to large marine mammals. You will study coastal and oceanic ecosystems, species interactions and the conservation challenges they face, building a solid grounding in marine biology, ecology and research techniques that prepares you to work in the protection and management of our oceans.
Prior knowledge check
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What is the Professional Diploma in Marine Fauna and Flora Studies?
This professional diploma trains you to identify, study and protect the species that live in the sea. You will learn the biological and oceanographic foundations of marine ecosystems, how invertebrates, fish, reptiles, seabirds and marine mammals are classified and identified, how phytoplankton, macroalgae and seagrass meadows are surveyed, how sampling campaigns are designed in the field and samples processed in the laboratory, how populations and communities interact with their habitats, how threats such as pollution, overfishing, invasive species and climate change are assessed, and how ecological data are analyzed, mapped and turned into technical reports.
What sets this professional diploma apart: equal attention to marine fauna and marine flora, rather than animals alone; a strong focus on data quality, from sampling design to chain of custody and validation; practical coverage of identification tools such as taxonomic keys, field guides and reference collections; a conservation perspective that links diagnosis with protected areas, restoration and management plans; an in-depth structure of eight modules; and a final project in which you design a complete monitoring study and management proposal for a marine area.
Program highlights
- Marine biology and ecological oceanography: the foundations for studying marine ecosystems as a whole.
- Taxonomy and identification: invertebrates, fish, reptiles, seabirds and marine mammals.
- Marine botany: phytoplankton, macroalgae, seagrass meadows and phytobenthic communities.
- Field and laboratory methods: sampling design, instrumentation, sample processing and data quality.
- Conservation and management: threats, marine protected areas, restoration and red lists.
- Final project: a monitoring design, ecological diagnosis and management proposal for a real study area.
Syllabus of the Professional Diploma in Marine Fauna and Flora Studies
8 modules. Select a module to see its content.
Fundamentals of marine biology, ecological oceanography and the integrated study of marine ecosystems
- 1.1. Introduction to marine biology: levels of biological organization, biodiversity and the functional structure of marine ecosystems
- 1.2. Applied physical and chemical oceanography: temperature, salinity, currents, nutrients and their influence on marine fauna and flora
- 1.3. Ecological zones of the ocean: littoral, neritic, pelagic, benthic and deep zones and their associated environmental gradients
- 1.4. Primary productivity and marine food webs: phytoplankton, macroalgae, seagrasses and energy transfer
- 1.5. Limiting ecological factors: light, oxygen, pH, turbidity, pressure and seasonal variability
- 1.6. Principles of marine ecological sampling: representativeness, spatial and temporal scale and the design of field campaigns
- 1.7. Scientific ethics, biosafety and good practice: responsible handling of organisms, records and data traceability
- 1.8. The main marine ecosystems and the environmental factors that shape them
Taxonomy, systematics and identification of marine fauna, focusing on groups of ecological and applied interest
- 2.1. Fundamentals of taxonomy and systematics: nomenclature, taxonomic hierarchies and biological classification criteria
- 2.2. Marine invertebrates I: sponges, cnidarians, annelids and their ecological relevance in coastal and reef habitats
- 2.3. Marine invertebrates II: molluscs, crustaceans and echinoderms; diagnostic features and trophic and fisheries importance
- 2.4. Marine vertebrates I: bony and cartilaginous fish; functional morphology, habitats and behavioral patterns
- 2.5. Marine vertebrates II: marine reptiles, seabirds and marine mammals; ecology, migration and conservation
- 2.6. Identification tools: taxonomic keys, field guides, reference collections and digital support
- 2.7. Recording and validating observations: species sheets, photographic evidence, georeferencing and taxonomic quality control
- 2.8. Dichotomous keys and species identification guides
Marine botany, phytobenthos and plant communities of the marine and coastal environment
- 3.1. Fundamentals of marine flora: microalgae, macroalgae, marine flowering plants and their role in ecosystem productivity
- 3.2. Marine phytoplankton: main groups, population dynamics, blooms and their relationship with water quality
- 3.3. Marine macroalgae: green, brown and red algae; morphology, ecology and distribution by substrate and depth
- 3.4. Seagrasses and underwater meadows: structure, ecosystem services, vulnerability and recovery
- 3.5. Phytobenthic communities on hard and soft substrates: ecological succession, competition and facilitation
- 3.6. Methods for sampling and identifying marine flora: quadrats, transects, biomass, cover and basic laboratory work
- 3.7. Plant indicators of environmental status: sensitive and tolerant species, bioindication and ecological monitoring
- 3.8. Macroalgae, marine flowering plants and phytoplankton
Field and laboratory methods for studying marine fauna and flora, with a focus on data quality
- 4.1. Designing sampling campaigns: objectives, hypotheses, variables, stations, frequencies and operational logistics
- 4.2. Marine fauna sampling techniques: visual censuses, nets, traps, remote observation and passive recording
- 4.3. Marine flora sampling techniques: scrapings, quadrats, transects, photo-quadrats and estimation of cover and biomass
- 4.4. Associated environmental instrumentation: CTD, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, pH, salinity and control of sampling conditions
- 4.5. Laboratory processing of samples: preservation, labeling, sorting, identification and chain of custody
- 4.6. Ecological data management: field sheets, databases, metadata, validation and error control
- 4.7. Safety in marine fieldwork: risks on the shore and on board, PPE, emergency protocols and operating permits
- 4.8. Sampling protocols and data quality control
Ecology of marine communities, biotic interactions and the dynamics of coastal and oceanic habitats
- 5.1. Ecology of marine populations: abundance, distribution, recruitment, mortality and connectivity
- 5.2. Biotic interactions: predation, competition, mutualism, symbiosis and facilitation in marine systems
- 5.3. Community structure and dynamics: alpha and beta diversity, dominance, succession and ecological resilience
- 5.4. Key marine habitats: reefs, mangroves, seagrass meadows, soft bottoms, estuaries and rocky areas
- 5.5. Keystone, engineer and bioindicator species: ecological functions and effects on ecosystem stability
- 5.6. Behavioral ecology applied to marine fauna: feeding, reproduction, shelter and use of space
- 5.7. Integrated ecological analysis: interpreting community patterns and their relationship with environmental variables and human pressure
- 5.8. Food webs and keystone species of marine ecosystems
Marine biodiversity conservation, threats, ecological restoration and the management of sensitive areas
- 6.1. Principles of marine conservation: biodiversity, ecosystem services and the precautionary approach
- 6.2. Main threats to marine fauna and flora: pollution, overfishing, habitat loss, invasive species and underwater noise
- 6.3. Climate change and the oceans: warming, acidification, deoxygenation and shifts in species distribution
- 6.4. Marine protected areas: categories, zoning, conservation objectives and monitoring of effectiveness
- 6.5. Marine ecological restoration: recovery of seagrass meadows, reefs, mangroves and degraded habitats
- 6.6. Species and habitat management plans: prioritization, indicators, timelines and adaptive monitoring
- 6.7. Community participation and environmental education: citizen science, local governance and communication for conservation
- 6.8. Red lists and catalogs of protected species
Analysis of marine ecological data, biodiversity mapping and technical reporting
- 7.1. Descriptive and exploratory statistics for marine studies: abundance, richness, diversity and data structure
- 7.2. Comparative analysis of communities: ecological indices, similarity, conceptual ordination and interpretation
- 7.3. Time series and environmental variability: seasonality, trends and detection of ecological change
- 7.4. Basic mapping of marine fauna and flora: georeferencing, species distribution and thematic maps
- 7.5. Integrating biological and environmental data: correlations, spatial patterns and ecological diagnosis
- 7.6. Writing technical and scientific reports: structure, results, discussion, conclusions and recommendations
- 7.7. Visualizing results and technical communication: tables, charts, species sheets and presentations for stakeholders
- 7.8. Biodiversity databases and statistical analysis tools
Final Project
- 8.1. Formulating the project: selecting the study area, objectives, hypotheses and technical and operational scope
- 8.2. Comprehensive methodological design: fauna and flora sampling strategy, environmental variables and logistics plan
- 8.3. Running the campaign and quality control: field protocols, recording of evidence and traceability of samples and data
- 8.4. Taxonomic identification and ecological analysis: processing results, indicators and diagnosis of ecosystem status
- 8.5. Assessing threats and conservation priorities: risks, habitat sensitivity and intervention criteria
- 8.6. Monitoring and management proposal: indicators, frequency, conservation and restoration actions and follow-up system
- 8.7. Presentation and defense of the integrated project
- 8.8. Presentation and defense of the final project: complete technical report, data annexes and presentation to an academic panel
Duration and format of the Professional Diploma in Marine Fauna and Flora Studies
It is 800 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.
This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.
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 CoordinatorObjectives of the Professional Diploma in Marine Fauna and Flora Studies
Career opportunities after the Professional Diploma in Marine Fauna and Flora Studies
Questions about the Professional Diploma in Marine Fauna and Flora Studies
The scientific study of marine fauna and flora: how species are identified, how their populations and communities are surveyed and analyzed, and how that knowledge supports conservation and management.
It covers both. Alongside invertebrates, fish, reptiles, seabirds and marine mammals, a full module is devoted to phytoplankton, macroalgae, seagrass meadows and phytobenthic communities.
Yes. You study how to design sampling campaigns, apply visual censuses, transects, quadrats and other techniques, use taxonomic keys and field guides, process samples and control data quality.
Yes. One module covers descriptive statistics, ecological indices, time series, basic biodiversity mapping and the writing of technical and scientific reports.
Yes. You analyze pollution, overfishing, habitat loss, invasive species, underwater noise and climate change, and study marine protected areas, ecological restoration, management plans and red lists.
You select a study area and design a complete project: sampling strategy, quality control, taxonomic and ecological analysis, assessment of threats and a monitoring and management proposal, which you present and defend.
Fully online, through a virtual campus available 24/7, with downloadable resources, discussion forums, recorded live sessions and tutorials with the teaching staff.
The professional diploma comprises 800 hours of study across 8 modules of 100 hours each and ends with a final project. You can progress at your own pace within the schedule set when you enroll.
More programs in Biology and conservation
Admission process
No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.
- Profile: aimed at marine biologists, ecologists and environmental consultants, laboratory technicians and advanced students, fisheries and aquaculture professionals, science educators and communicators, and managers of marine protected areas; a degree in marine biology, environmental sciences, oceanography or a related field, or professional experience in marine conservation, research or natural resource management, is recommended, together with basic knowledge of biology, ecology and chemistry.
- Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
- Technical resources: a computer with a camera and microphone and a stable internet connection to access the materials and take part in forums and live sessions.
- Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
- 01ApplicationYour details, background and documents.
- 02Instant reviewWe check that everything is complete and in order.
- 03EnrollmentChoose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.
Ask us before you enroll
Leave your details and admissions will write to you to answer any questions. If you are already sure, you can apply and pay in the same session.