Freshwater Ecology

To understand how variations in the environment influence biological adaptations and interactions among groups of organisms in different types of lakes and running water, nationally as well as globally. Moreover, the course also provides understanding of the management of the fresh waters 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 relationship with the physical and chemical environment, and biological interactions among different groups of organisms. Such knowledge shall enable the student to explain the ecology of fresh waters in a coherent fashion and to use the knowledge operationally. Moreover, the student shall recognise the environmental quality of fresh waters and understand the factors controlling ecological quality, and thus be able to discuss current issues related to fresh waters 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 fresh water (phytoplankton, zooplankton, aquatic plants, macro invertebrates and fish);

• identify the most important organisms with respect to specific processes, and provide names for key organisms in selected freshwater ecosystems;

• explain how the physico-chemical environment (e.g., stratification, light attenuation and inorganic pools of carbon) regulates and affects the most important groups of organisms.

Skills:

• define the spatial zones of lakes and running waters (e.g., epilimnion, littoral zone, 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 turnover of organic matters with respect to changes in abiotic and biotic parameters;

• explain adaptation with respect to ”life” in different freshwater habitats;

• explain input, output and turnover of nutrients and organic matter in different fresh waters and their hydrological catchments.

Competences:

• assess anthropogenic impacts on freshwater ecosystems in a sustainability perspective including identifying causes and effects of the current management practices as related to habitat loss, degradation and decline in biodiversity;

• identify the effects of human impact on streams and lakes (e.g., eutrophication, habitat degradation) based on monitoring data and propose remediation activities including restoration;

• analyse the ecological quality of streams and lakes using a holistic approach considering biological interactions and the influence of the surrounding landscape including issues related to land use.