BB819: Practicals in Aquatic Ecology (10 ECTS)

STADS: 04012601

Level
Master's level course

Teaching period
The course is offered in the autumn semester.

Teacher responsible
Email: saege@biology.sdu.dk

Timetable
Show entire timetable
Show personal time table for this course.

Prerequisites:
None

Academic preconditions:
Basic knowledge about ecology, plant biology and zoology.

Course introduction
To give the student knowledge about freshwater ecological theories within the areas: cycling of nutrients and energy in ecosystems, and function and development of ecosystems. The level of knowledge should be adequate for future work with management of aquatic ecosystems. The students should furthermore obtain practical knowledge about field and experimental ecology and know the most common aquatic environmental analysis.

Expected learning outcome
At the end of the course, the student is expected to be able to:

• Explain the water cycle
• Analyse the physical-chemical conditions in aquatic ecosystems and explain the relationship between these and the environmental condition
• Explain the cycling of carbon and nutrients and analyse which factor that is limiting the primary production in aquatic ecosystems
• Explain the importance of abiotic factors for biological processes and the biological structure in aquatic ecosystems, including causes and consequences of eutrophication
• Summarise the overall importance of plants, animals and microorganisms for production and decomposition of organic matter and the nutrient cycling in aquatic ecosystems
• Analyse the environmental conditions of specific ecosystems using general ecological knowledge
• Suggest methods for restoration of streams and lakes

Subject overview
1) Theoretical part
By lectures, discussion classes and analysis of datasets the theory about the importance of microorganisms, flora and fauna for production and decomposition of organic matter and nutrient cycling in aquatic ecosystems will be taught. For example the following subjects will be discussed: abiotic factors (light, stratification), nutrient (e.g. nitrogen, phosphorus, iron, sulfur, silica) and carbon cycling, eutrophication, limiting factors, pelagic and benthic communities, biological structure and functioning of aquatic ecosystems. Since many aquatic ecosystems are not in a satisfactory condition, methods for stream and lake restoration also will be discussed.

2) Practicals and field work
Parallel to the theoretical part there will be field work, practicals, exercises with presentation of own work and excursions. The course starts with sampling in the field (lake) followed by laboratory analysis and experiments. This should give the student practical experience with sampling and measurements of abiotic parameters on water and sediment samples from aquatic environments. The practicals will be carried out as project work in smaller groups. The laboratory work includes common chemical analysis of water and sediment used in environmental management. The data treatment and report writing should enable the students to evaluate and discuss the results on basis of a general knowledge on nutrient cycling and ecosystem parameters and to compare obtained results with other investigations. Comparisons should be made to literature data from other aquatic ecosystems and the students should obtain insight in environmental monitoring. An excursion will demonstrate restorations of aquatic ecosystems.

Literature
There isn't any litterature for the course at the moment.

Website
This course uses e-learn (blackboard).

Prerequisites for participating in the exam
None

Assessment and marking:

1. A report containing results and discussion of the project (Pass/fail, evaluation by the teacher).
2. Written 4-hour exam (Danish 7-mark scale, evaluation by internal examiner).

Reexamination in same termine

Expected working hours
The teaching method is based on three phase model.

Forelæsninger (20 t), eksaminatorier (8 t), øvelser og feltarbejde (37 t), ekskursion (6 t).
Educational activities

Language
This course is taught in English.

Remarks
Attendance at field work, laboratory practicals, excursions and exercises is obligatory.

Course enrollment
See deadline of enrolment.

Tuition fees for single courses
See fees for single courses.