The curriculum structure of PPBA is broad and flexible, with a small number of compulsory subjects and a large number of electives. Currently, between 15 and 20 disciplines are offered annually, based on a curricular structure with more than 30 disciplines. In addition, the Program counts on the regular participation of external collaborators. The students are encouraged, in partnership with their supervisors, to build their curricular structures almost individually, however, they ensure training in Biodiversity, but it is possible to provide targeted training for the specific area of research of the student / advisor, such as Molecular Biology, Ecology, Socio-environmental, Oceanography, Aquaculture, among others.
Master’s and Doctorate
1. Mandatory Disciplines
Interdisciplinary Integration Seminars (1 Credit Unit, 15 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: Through this course, students will be able to discuss different topics related to the study of coastal and estuarine environments, in addition to being able to experience different aspects related to the accomplishment of scientific investigations and didactics of professors with proven experience.
2. Elective Disciplines
Sociological Analysis of Fishing Populations (PPGBA0019) (2 Credit Units, 30 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: Objectives of the discipline: to identify and discuss the approaches of the Social Sciences on the relations between society and the environment and on fish-based populations, particularly in the Amazon; (or agro-fishing communities) in the Amazon region and in the northeast of Pará in particular, focusing on the historical, social and economic dynamics of these groups.
Aquaculture (PPGBA0010) (3 Credit Units, 45 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: Knowledge of the main species used in aquaculture emphasizing aspects of reproduction biology and artificial propagation. Show current techniques applied in world and national aquaculture. Show notions of nursery building and fish ponding.
Aquatic Ecology (PPGBA0008) (2 Credit Units, 30 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: Study of water quality, processes, participation and interactions among communities in aquatic ecosystems. Emphasis is given to Experimental Aquatic Ecology such as Fishery Management and monitoring of water quality in these ecosystems.
Ecology of Benthos (PPGBA0007) (3 Credit Units, 45 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: Students who study this discipline will discuss the definition and basic concepts related to lifestyles, diversity, mobility, feeding of benthic organisms and other aspects such as: sediments; patterns of spatial distribution; other environmental factors related to the distribution of benthic organisms; substrate-organism relationship, adaptive strategies; structure and regulation of the benthic community. The relations of the benthos with the different habitats, such as: mangrove swamps, marshes, sandy beaches, sublittoral funds; the study of benthos of hard substrates (rocky coastline) and zoning; or deep-sea benthos: the role of symbiotic microorganisms; benthic production, and its importance in coastal and estuarine ecosystems.
Mangrove Ecology (PPGBA0001) (4 Credit Units, 60 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: Study of water quality, processes, participation and interactions among communities in aquatic ecosystems. Emphasis is given to experimental aquatic ecology such as fishery management and monitoring of water quality in these ecosystems.
Multivariate Statistics (PPGBA0005) (3 Credit Units, 45 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: With this discipline, students will be able to discuss and use the different methods of multivariate analysis and apply them in their dissertation work, thus improving the quality of their completion work.
Phytogeography: South America (PPGBA0057) (3 Credit Units, 45 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: Concepts and definitions in Phylogeography and related topics, use of molecular markers and analysis programs, interpretation of situations with organisms from South America. Thus, it aims to present students with basic theoretical and practical aspects of phylogeography and related topics , in order to enable them to: understand the processes and standards involved; evaluate the effects of genetic differentiation processes, vicariance and dispersion in populations and species; selecting different genetic markers and knowing their applications; use software for phylogeographic analysis and interpret them; to evaluate practical situations involving molecular data from organisms of South America.
Genetics Applied to Conservation (PPGBA0014) (4 Credit Units, 60 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: Module I: Conservation: Conservation Biology and Biological Diversity; threats to biological diversity; conservation of populations and species; conservation of communities; conservation and sustainable development; conservation and ethics. Module II: Molecular Biology in Conservation: molecular approach in studies of activities of coastal organisms; Molecular Phylogeny: new perspectives on the ecology, evolution and biodiversity of organisms; molecular studies of biodiversity; molecular studies and population analysis; the importance of using statistics in genetic analyzes; population genetic divergence and geographic patterns of DNA sequences; genetics and definition of protected areas.
Coastal Management (PPGBA0020) (3 Credit Units, 45 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: Understanding the main physical, chemical, geological, biological and social agents that operate in the coastal zones. Types of environmental impacts that operate in coastal zones. Guidelines for the elaboration of a Coasts Management Plan.
Introduction to Molecular Biology (PPGBA0015) (4 Credit Units, 60 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: Equipment presentation; theory on DNA extraction; extraction practice; DNA migration in minigel and photo-documentation; PCR theory; theory and practice on primer design; theory about DNA sequencing; practice on DNA sequencing reaction; practice on precipitation of DNA sequencing reactions; practice on DNA sequencing electrophoresis in ABI377 and MegaBace 1000; theory on alignment of DNA sequences; practices on electrophorerograms analysis and DNA sequencing; practice on DNA sequence alignment; application theory of the molecular tools used in the course.
Coastal Morphodynamics (PPGBA0033) (3 Credit Units, 45 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: To investigate and to discuss the interactions between geomorphology and the dynamics of the coastal zone, understanding the different types of coastal environments and how these modify and evolve in different time scales, according to the variations of several factors combined.
Coastal Oceanography (4 Credit Units, 60 Credit Hours)
Syllabus: Recognition of the fundamental concepts and principles of General Oceanography including its origin, physicochemical properties of water (salinity, currents, tides, temperature, luminosity and etc.), biological relationships between groups that make up marine environments and the Influence of abiotic factors (climatological and hydrological) on the distribution and variation of these organisms in estuarine and marine environments. Recognition of the fundamental concepts and principles of General Oceanography including its origin, physicochemical properties of water (salinity, currents, tides, temperature, luminosity, etc.) biological relationships between groups that make up marine environments and the influence of abiotic (climatological and hydrological) factors on the distribution and variation of these organisms in the estuarine and marine environments.