NBIK15023U Macro Fauna in Freshwater: Ecology and Environmental Assessment

Volume 2015/2016
Education

MSc Programme in Biology

Content

The course consists of various components. One of them is collecting samples of benthic macroinvertebrate communities and perform measurements of environmental conditions at selected stream localities, applying the official protocols used in the Danish monitoring programs. The sites will cover broad gradients in water and habitat quality. In the lab the fauna is identified using relevant literature, and the results analysed together with provided data series from other sites. The obtained species lists are used to calculate several diversity and biotic indices. The community composition and its relationship to environmental factors is further analysed using multivariate analyses (e.g. ordinations) on the computer. In another part of the course we will perform bio-assay experiments on survival over time of selected species covering a wide gradient in anticipated tolerance to organic pollution. Based on these experiments we will attempt to build our own biotic indices. In the third course-component we will use real data from the literature on distribution of macroinvertebrates in relation to water quality to construct a new fauna-quality index based on objective data. The course includes a number of lectures on fundamental topics.  These will also include the use of macroinvertebrates in the monitoring of lake quality, but otherwise the course focuses on running water environments. The results of the sampling, experiments and building of new biotic indices will be presented by the groups and discussed among participants.

Learning Outcome

Knowledge

  • The ecology and main environmental conditions in streams

  • The longitudinal, large-scale and small-scale distribution of macroinvertebrate communities in streams and rivers

  • The effects of organic pollution in running waters

  • Common methods for measurement of physico-chemical variables and collection of benthic fauna in freshwaters

  • Main adaptation of the fauna to life in running waters (e.g. respiration, morphology, foraging)

  • National and international methods and protocols for monitoring of streams

  • Weaknesses and strengths of various biotic indices and monitoring protocols

Skills

  • Using sampling equipment and appropriate collection of samples for environmental monitoring

  • Using identification keys and identifying the macrofauna from Danish streams to the level required for the Danish DVFI index

  • Familiarity with key-taxa and groups with specific environmental demands (indicator-taxa)

  • Analyse community data and distribution patterns using basic and advanced statistical methods

Competences

  • Plan and execute a sampling program to assess the biological and environmental quality based on the benthic macroinvertebrate fauna

  • Create and apply new biotic indices based on objective data

  • Critically evaluate and interpret diversity indices, quantitative data and official monitoring protocols

  • Evaluate pros and contras of biological assessment

Literature

Will be posted on Absalon (part of it will be in Danish)

Lectures, colloquia, student presentations and practical lab/computer exercises. The entire field course is based on group work. The written assignment based on course results, to be delivered max 3 weeks after the field course, is individual.
The course has a fee which covers food and accommodation. In addition, the students will pay for own transportation to and from the Salten Skov field station in Jylland.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Colloquia
  • 30
  • Field Work
  • 22
  • Laboratory
  • 32
  • Lectures
  • 12
  • Preparation
  • 60
  • Project work
  • 50
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
An individually written assignment is to be delivered maximun 3 weeks after the end of the field course.
Exam registration requirements

100% active participation in the field course.
If the requirement is not fulfilled, the student must take the course again the next year.

Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Re-exam

Assignments which have not passed will be given the opportunity of a revision and resubmission.

Criteria for exam assesment

To achieve the grade 12 the student must show a solid and comprehensive understanding of all aspects of freshwater macroinvertebrate ecology and use in bio-monitoring, in concert with the general and specific goals of the course, and present the knowledge in a logical and academic context and use the international limnological terminology, cf. the learning outcome of the course.