NBIK14004U Freshwater Ecology

To understand variations in the environment, biological adaptations, interactions and turnover of matter in different types of lakes and running water; both nationally and globally. It is also the purpose to understand the management of the freshwaters in a context of water supply and land use.

General goals:
The student is expected to achieve a general understanding of the most important freshwater organisms, their relation to the physical and chemical environment, and biological interaction among different groups of organisms. Such knowledge shall enable the student to explain the ecology of freshwaters in a coherent fashion and to use the knowledge operationally. Finally, the student shall understand the environmental quality of freshwaters and understand the factors controlling quality, and thus be able to discuss current issues relating to freshwaters and to do so using scientific justification.

Specific goals:
After the course the student can:

Knowledge:

• describe the biology of the most important groups of organisms in freshwater (phytoplankton, zooplankton, macrophytes, macro invertebrates and fish)
• identify the most important organisms with respect to specific processes, and provide names for the most important organisms in selected freshwater ecosystems
• explain how the physico-chemical environment (e.g. stratification, light attenuation and inorganic pool of carbon) regulates and affects the most important groups of organisms

Skills:

• define the spatial zones of lakes and running waters (e.g. epilimnion, littoralzone, spring, river)
• describe the important ecological differences and similarities among different types of freshwater systems
• describe and explain time and space variations for the composition, diversity and production in natural communities
• provide examples of biological interactions among organisms in freshwater (competition, herbivory and predation)
• predict and calculate the consequences for specific groups of organisms and turn over of matters with respect to changes in abiotic and biotic relations
• explain adaptation with respect to ”life” in different freshwater habitats
• explain input, output and turn over nutrients and organic matter in different freshwaters and their hydrological catchments

Competences:

• evaluate the effects of human impact (e.g. eutrophication, habitat degradation) on biological communities and the general ecology of freshwaters
• evaluate, analyse and calculate key parameters using primary data using correct units
• use important scientific terms correctly
• read, evaluate and present scientific literature