Dr. Marina AlcoverAcademic director focused on measurable results and operational excellence in maritime education. Integrates IMO/STCW regulations and ISO 21001/9001 f
Masters · 1600 h · 11 modules
Master's in Biodiversity and Conservation of Marine Ecosystems
This program offers you an in-depth immersion in the study and protection of the oceans. You will learn to assess the health of ecosystems, identify threats, and design effective conservation strategies. This program combines a…
Duration1600 h
FormatOnline
Starts7 December
Places20 / 20
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Programme overview
What is the Master’s in Biodiversity and Conservation of Marine Ecosystems?
The Master's in Biodiversity and Conservation of Marine Ecosystems
This program offers you an in-depth immersion in the study and protection of the oceans. You will learn to assess the health of ecosystems, identify threats, and design effective conservation strategies. This program combines a solid theoretical foundation with fieldwork and data analysis, preparing you to lead research and management projects in the marine environment.
Differentiating Advantages
- Multidisciplinary Approach: integrates biology, ecology, oceanography, and environmental management.
- Innovative Technologies: use of drones, underwater acoustics, and modeling for biodiversity studies.
- International Collaborations: access to research projects and expert networks globally.
- Skills Development: scientific communication skills, leadership, and complex problem-solving abilities.
- Career Opportunities: opportunities in NGOs, government agencies, consultancies, and research centers research.
Programme type
Master's Degree
Study mode
Online
Duration
1,600 hours
Modules
11
Programme highlights
- Advanced Specialization: Delve deeper into marine ecology, resource management, and conservation strategies.
- Cutting-Edge Research: Participate in innovative projects and contribute to scientific knowledge about marine ecosystems.
- Practical Tools: Master monitoring, data analysis, and ecological modeling techniques applied to marine conservation.
- Field Experience: Complete professional internships at leading institutions and organizations in marine environmental protection.
- Exit Professional: Boost your career in environmental management, consulting, research, and public policy. Become an expert in the protection and sustainable management of our oceans.
Curriculum
Programme Structure
The programme is structured in 11 modules, listed below in order of study.
01
Advanced Fundamentals of Marine Biodiversity, Ocean Ecological Structure and Scientific Bases for Conservation of Complex Marine Systems
- Marine biodiversity concept and levels of biological organisation from genes and species to oceanic communities, habitats and ecosystems
- Evolution of marine life and historical processes that have configured the biological diversity of oceans, coastal seas and insular systems
- Main marine ecological domains: Pelagic, Benthic, Coastal, Deep, Polar, Reef, Estuarine and Oceanic Open
- Relationship between environmental heterogeneity, ecological connectivity and spatial distribution of marine biodiversity at different scales
- Physical, chemical and biological factors that regulate the structure and dynamics of marine communities in contrasting environments
- Concepts of resilience, stability, functional redundancy and ecosystem services in the evaluation of marine ecological value
- Global patterns of wealth, endemism, productivity and vulnerability in tropical, temperate, and polar marine ecosystems
- Interaction between biodiversity, biogeochemical processes and the functioning of the ocean-atmosphere-climate system
- Main Contemporary Threats on Marine Biodiversity and Need for Integrated Conservation and Restoration Approaches
- Systemic approach to marine conservation as a discipline that integrates ecology, oceanography, management, public policy and socio-environmental governance
02
Advanced marine ecology, biotic interactions and functioning of communities and food networks in coastal and ocean ecosystems
- Fundamentals of marine ecology applied to the analysis of populations, communities and biological assemblies in dynamic marine environments
- Marine trophic network structure and relationships between primary production, consumers, detrimental and recycling of organic matter
- Key Ecological Interactions: Predation, Competition, Mutualism, Facilitation, Parasitism, and its role in ecosystem organisation
- Dynamics of marine populations and factors that regulate recruitment, survival, reproduction, migration and connectivity
- Ecology of key species, engineering species, butt predators and its influence on the stability and structure of the marine system
- Community responses to natural disturbances, extreme events, and cumulative anthropic pressures in the ocean
- Space-time variability of marine communities and mechanisms of succession, replacement and ecological reorganisation
- Relationships between habitat complexity, functional diversity and ecosystem response capacity in the face of environmental change
- Integration between local and regional forcing processes in the configuration of complex marine ecosystems
- Application of advanced ecological knowledge to the identification of conservation priorities and adaptive management of the marine environment
03
Taxonomic, functional and genetic diversity of marine organisms and methods of characterising the ocean biota
- Main marine taxonomic groups and classification criteria for microorganisms, invertebrates, fish, reptiles, birds and marine mammals
- Functional diversity and ecological traits as a tool to understand the role of species in the functioning of ecosystems
- Genetic variability and population structure of marine organisms as a basis for evolutionary resilience and long-term conservation
- Marine biogeography and species distribution patterns in relation to currents, barriers, latitudinal gradients and connectivity
- Morphological, molecular and bioinformatic methods for identification of species and delimitation of biological units of conservation
- Environmental DNA, metabarcoding and genomic tools applied to marine biodiversity monitoring and detection of rare or invasive species
- Conservation of intraspecific diversity and relevance of isolated populations, endemic or highly adapted to local conditions
- Assessment of genetic vulnerability to overexploitation, fragmentation, pollution and climate change in marine populations
- Integration between taxonomy, genetics and functional ecology to design more accurate monitoring and conservation strategies
- Application of advanced biological characterisation to the design of policies, protected areas and marine restoration programmes
04
Marine habitats, coastal and deep ecosystems and comparative analysis of their biodiversity, fragility and conservation value
- Ecological and biogeographic characteristics of coral reefs, sea grasslands, mangroves, marshes, beaches, estuaries and soft backgrounds
- Continental shelf ecosystems, slopes, submarine canyons, seamounts, abyssal plains and hydrothermal sources
- Physical and biological structure of polar and subpolar ecosystems and their role in global regulation of climate and ocean productivity
- Environmental gradients and ecological zonation in coastal, intertidal, subtidal and deep ocean systems
- Differential vulnerability of marine habitats against heating, acidification, eutrophication, trawling and pollution
- Ecological, economic and sociocultural value of unique marine ecosystems with high biological diversity
- Ecological connectivity between coastal and ocean habitats and their importance for life cycles, migrations and flow of matter and energy
- Methods for assessing conservation status, ecological integrity and level of alteration of priority marine habitats
- Spatial prioritisation of marine habitats for protection, restoration and management based on risk and ecological representativeness
- Construction of integrated conservation visions that recognize the diversity of marine habitats and their functional relationships
05
Anthropogenic threats, climate change and cumulative pressures on biodiversity and marine ecosystems
- Overfishing, bycatch, seafloor degradation and intensive extraction of resources as critical pressures on marine biodiversity
- Contamination by nutrients, hydrocarbons, metals, pesticides, underwater noise, plastics and microplastics in coastal and oceanic environments
- Ocean warming, acidification, deoxygenation and alteration of currents as marine expressions of global climate change
- Ecological effects of coastal urbanization, port works, dredging, intensive tourism and coastal occupation
- Introduction of invasive alien species through maritime transport, aquaculture and human activities associated with global exchange
- Habitat fragmentation, loss of connectivity and functional collapse of marine systems subjected to multiple simultaneous pressures
- Synergies and cumulative effects between different threats on sensitive species, vulnerable habitats and key ecosystem processes
- Tools for evaluating exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity of marine ecosystems in the face of global change
- Future marine biodiversity transformation scenarios and ecological risk assessment under different environmental trajectories
- Integration of threat analysis into the formulation of evidence-based mitigation, adaptation and marine conservation strategies
06
Monitoring, ecological evaluation, biodiversity indicators and technologies applied to the study and monitoring of marine ecosystems
- Fundamentals of marine ecological monitoring and design of observation programmes at different spatial and temporal scales
- Taxonomic, functional, genetic and ecosystem indicators to evaluate biodiversity, integrity and health of the marine environment
- Methods of sampling plankton, benthos, fish, megafauna, coastal habitats and deep ecosystems in conservation studies
- Remote sensing application, drones, acoustic systems, ROV, AUV and autonomous platforms for monitoring of marine environments
- Use of ecological databases, marine GIS and spatial analysis for mapping of habitats, species and priority areas of conservation
- Species distribution modelling, connectivity and environmental vulnerability to support marine planning
- Integration of Citizen Science, Community Observation and Participatory Monitoring Networks in Coastal and Marine Conservation
- Data quality control, ecological time series and trend analysis in biodiversity and environmental disturbance
- Early warning systems for critical events such as coral bleaching, harmful blooms, mass mortality and acute contamination
- Construction of adaptive monitoring systems to support management decisions, impact assessment and effectiveness of conservation measures
07
Marine conservation tools, marine protected areas, ecological restoration and adaptive management of ecosystems
- Fundamentals of marine conservation and evolution of approaches from species protection to integrated ecosystem management
- Design, typologies and ecological criteria of marine protected areas, reserves, biological corridors and other figures of space conservation
- Representativeness, connectivity, size, zoning and effectiveness of protected areas in marine biodiversity conservation
- Adaptive management and operational governance of marine protected areas in contexts of conflict between conservation and use of resources
- Ecological restoration of reefs, seagrass, mangroves, marshes and bottoms degraded by active and passive techniques
- Rehabilitation of populations and recovery of ecological functions through measures of protection, control of threats and restoration of habitat
- Integration between area-based conservation, species conservation and sectoral measures for fishing, transportation and coastal use
- Assessment of ecological, social and compliance with marine conservation and restoration programmes
- Nature-based solutions and use of coastal ecosystems for climate adaptation, coastal protection and socio-ecological resilience
- Design of robust, measurable and adaptive conservation and restoration strategies in the face of accelerated environmental change scenarios
08
Marine Policy, Governance, Conservation Economy and Integrated Management of Coastal and Ocean Areas
- Fundamentals of marine governance and distribution of competences between local, national, regional and international levels
- Conventions, agreements and international regulatory frameworks for conservation of marine biodiversity and sustainable use of the ocean
- Integrated management of coastal zones and management of maritime space as tools for articulation between conservation and development
- Marine ecological economy and assessment of ecosystem services as support for public policy and conservation decisions
- Economic, financial and market instruments applicable to marine conservation, restoration and sustainable management of resources
- Participation of coastal communities, fishermen, indigenous peoples, tourism actors and civil society in marine governance
- Resolution of socio-environmental conflicts associated with protected areas, fishing, infrastructure, marine energy and coastal use
- Environmental justice, intergenerational equity and inclusive conservation approaches in marine-coastal territories
- Integration between science, public policy and decision-making in marine conservation under uncertainty and multi-sector pressure
- Construction of effective marine governance frameworks to sustain biodiversity, human well-being and territorial resilience
09
Global change, socio-ecological resilience and adaptation strategies for the conservation of marine biodiversity in the 21st century
- Fundamentals of global change and its manifestation in oceans, coasts and high-sensitivity marine ecological systems
- Displacement of species, tropicalization, phenological changes and reorganisation of marine communities under emerging climate scenarios
- Ecological and socio-ecological resilience as a framework for understanding responsiveness and reorganisation against severe disturbances
- Ecosystem-based adaptation and management strategies that increase adaptive capacity of coastal habitats and communities
- Dynamic conservation and flexible planning against climate uncertainty, distribution changes and extreme environmental variability
- Prospective scenarios and use of models to anticipate changes in biodiversity, ecosystem services and conflicts of sea use
- Transition to Climatically Intelligent Marine Management in Conservation, Fisheries, Tourism and Coastal Management Policies
- Integration between climate mitigation, blue carbon and protection of coastal ecosystems with high sequestration and storage capacity
- Design of resilience and adaptation indicators to evaluate the effectiveness of conservation measures in contexts of accelerated change
- Construction of transformative marine conservation strategies that combine adaptation, restoration, governance and advanced scientific evidence
10
Threatened species, invasive species and conservation of marine fauna
- IUCN Red List applied to marine species
- CITES Conventions, CMS and Migratory Species
- Species recovery plans
- Conservation of cetaceans and sea turtles
- Threatened sharks and rays
- Seabirds and bycatch
- Invasive alien species
- Introduction vectors: ballast water and fouling
- Early detection and eradication
- conservation of a species
11
Master’s Final Project in Biodiversity and Conservation of Marine Ecosystems
- Case study definition: Marine ecosystem, coastal area, focal species or selected conservation problem
- Comprehensive ecological characterisation of the chosen system through analysis of biodiversity, habitat, connectivity and ecosystem functions
- Identification and evaluation of threats, cumulative pressures and vulnerability factors affecting the object of study
- Design of the methodological framework of research, monitoring or intervention with selection of indicators, tools and scales of analysis
- Integration of ecological, oceanographic, spatial, social and governance data to build a robust system diagnosis
- Formulation of a conservation, restoration or adaptive management proposal based on evidence and adjusted to the territorial context
- Evaluation of ecological, institutional, social and economic viability of the strategy proposed for the selected case
- Development of a monitoring scheme, success indicators and adaptation mechanisms to sustain the effectiveness of the proposal
- Drafting of the comprehensive technical report with scientific, methodological, operational and governance justification of the developed project
- Presentation and defence of the final project with global validation of the Biodiversity Conservation Proposal and Marine Ecosystems
Workload
Study Time and Workload
1600 hours of study, online and at your own pace. Move the slider to the hours a week you can really put in.
Hours a week8
Weeks to finish—
You finish around—
Who it is for
Marine biologists and environmental scientists seeking to specialize in the management and conservation of threatened marine ecosystems.Public administration and NGO professionals needing tools for the design and implementation of marine conservation policies.Environmental consultants and corporate technicians interested in the environmental impact assessment of activities in the marine enviro
Faculty
Academic direction and faculty
The teaching team at Navalis: working professionals who deliver and oversee the institute's programmes.
Eng. Diego Cifuentes
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)
Dr. Pau Ferrer
Dr. Nuria Llobregat
Eng. Javier Bañuls
Eng. Sofía Marquina
Eng. Tomás Riera
Verified reviews
Student Reviews
Reviews collected and verified by Opynio, not written by us.
Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
- 01Design and implement effective strategies for the sustainable management of marine resources
- 02Assess and mitigate the impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems
- 03Lead innovative research projects in marine biology and coastal ecology
- 04Develop and apply advanced techniques for the restoration of degraded marine habitats
- 05Advise and participate in the formulation of public policies for marine conservation
- 06Effectively communicate scientific findings to the community and decision-makers
Careers
Career Opportunities
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02Marine Conservation Project Manager: Design, implementation, and evaluation of projects for the protection of marine species and habitats.
03Marine Environmental Consultant: Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for coastal and marine projects, advising companies and public administrations.
04Scientific Researcher: Development of research in marine ecology, biodiversity, climate change, and conservation of marine ecosystems.
05Sustainable Aquaculture Technician: Implementation of aquaculture practices that respect the environment and marine biodiversity.
06Marine Environmental Educator: Design and development of educational and awareness programs on the importance of marine conservation.
07Marine Protected Area (MPA) Manager: Planning and management of MPAs, monitoring of ecosystems and species, and control of Activities.
08Working in NGOs and environmental foundations: Participation in conservation projects, awareness campaigns, and advocacy.
09Technical advisor in public administrations: Development of policies and regulations for the protection of the marine environment and the sustainable management of resources.
Questions
Entry Requirements
The main focus is on biodiversity and the conservation of marine ecosystems.
Yes. The itinerary includes ECDIS/Radar-ARPA/BRM with harbor, ocean, fog, storm, and SAR scenarios.
Online with live sessions; hybrid option for simulator/practical placements through agreements.
Yeah.
Recommended functional SMCP. We offer support materials for standard phraseology.
Yes, with a relevant degree or experience in maritime/port operations. The admissions interview will confirm suitability.
Optional (3–6 months) through Companies & Collaborations and the Alumni Network.
Simulator practice (rubrics), defeat plans, SOPs, checklists, micro-tests and applied TFM.
A degree from Navalis Magna Institute + operational portfolio (tracks, SOPs, reports and KPIs) useful for audits and employment.
Online admissions
Admissions Process
No waiting for a phone call. If your documents are complete, you can pay in the same session.
Entry requirements
```htmlAcademic/Professional Profile:Bachelor's/Undergraduate Degree in Biology, Environmental Sciences, Marine Sciences, or related field; or accredited professional experience in marine conservation or marine ecosystem management.Language proficiency:Recommended B2 level of English (CEFR) for reading scientific literature and participating in seminars.Documentation:Updated CV, copy of degree, academic transcript, ID/Passport, cover letter.Additional requirements:Letter(s) of recommendation (optional but valued).```
Questions?
Frequently Asked Questions
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