12 Cambridge O Level Marine Science 5180. Syllabus for examination in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Content of Theme 1 1. Introduction to Marine Science
1.1 Structure of the Earth 1.2 Plate tectonics
1.3 Tsunamis 1.4 Extent and depths of the oceans
2. Geomorphology of the marine environment
2.1 Continental shelf 2.2 Continental slope
2.3 Abyssal plain 2.4 Submarine ridge
2.5 Ocean trench 2.6 Volcanic island
2.7 Coral reef 2.8 Atoll
3. The sea shore
3.1 Sandy shore 3.2 Rocky shore
3.3 Muddy shore
4. Coastal features
4.1 Estuaries 4.2 Mangroves
5. atoll formation
5.1 The Darwin-Dana-Daly theory
6. Chemical properties of seawater
6.1 Inorganic solutes 6.2 Salinity
6.3 Dissolved oxygen 6.4 pH
6.5 Diffusion and osmosis
7. Physical properties of seawater
7.1 Density 7.2 Pressure
7.3 Light penetration 7.4 Temperature
7.5 Tides and wave action 7.6 Currents and upwellings
8. Climatic features
8.1 Monsoons 8.2 El Niño
8.3 Global warming
13 Cambridge O Level Marine Science 5180. Syllabus for examination in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Theme 2: Systematics and biodiversity
aims Candidates will gain a knowledge and understanding of the principles of classiication, including the ive
kingdom system, biodiversity and the characteristic external features of a range of representative marine organisms.
learning outcomes Candidates should be able to:
a understand that species are classiied into groups according to shared features b describe the principles of classiication based on kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus and species
c describe the features of the ive kingdoms prokaryotes, protoctists, fungi, plants and animals d understand the principle of dichotomous keys for identiication
e explain the meaning of the term biodiversity f compare the biodiversity of two contrasting habitats, e.g. coral reef and sandy shore
g identify and describe the characteristic external features of each of the following groups: viruses and bacteria
algae microalgae, green algae, red algae and brown algae lowering plants sea grasses
cnidaria jellyish, sea anemones and coral polyps annelids polychaetes
molluscs gastropods, bivalves and cephalopods arthropods shrimps, crabs and lobsters
echinoderms sea cucumbers, starish and sea urchins chordates bony ish, cartilaginous ish, reptiles, birds and mammals
h apply the knowledge and understanding gained in this section in new contexts
Core practical work to include a simple comparison of species diversity in two different habitats; examination of specimens, making accurate drawings and making comparisons of external
features.
Content of Theme 2 1. Introduction to classiication
1.1 Classiication based on shared features 1.2 Principles of classiication
1.3 The ive kingdom system of classiication
1.4 Dichotomous keys
2. biodiversity
2.1 Biodiversity of two habitats
3. Representative marine organisms
