LAKE AND RIVER ECOSYSTEMS
| Title | LAKE AND RIVER ECOSYSTEMS / LAKE AND RIVER ECOSYSTEMS |
| Code | ES4054 |
| Faculty | Sciences |
| School | Biology |
| Cycle / Level | 1st / Undergraduate |
| Teaching Period | Spring |
| Coordinator | Dimitra Bobori |
| Common | No |
| Status | Active |
| Course ID | 40002618 |
Programme of Study: PPS Tmīma Viologías (2017-sīmera)
Registered students: 0
| Orientation | Attendance Type | Semester | Year | ECTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ERASMUS | Elective Courses | 6 | 3 | 6 |
| Academic Year | 2020 – 2021 |
| Class Period | Spring |
| Faculty Instructors | |
| Weekly Hours | 2 |
| Class ID | 600167928
|
Course Type 2016-2020
- Scientific Area
- Skills Development
Course Type 2011-2015
Specific Foundation / Core
Mode of Delivery
- Face to face
Digital Course Content
- e-Study Guide https://qa.auth.gr/en/class/1/600167928
- At the Website of the School: http://www.bio.auth.gr/en/content/river-and-lake-water-quality
Erasmus
The course is also offered to exchange programme students.
Language of Instruction
- English (Instruction, Examination)
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, the students will acquire: a)knowledge on the structure and function of lake and river ecosystems focusing on hydromorphological, physico-chemical and in particular on biological elements, b)will get familiar with the use of EU Directive (2000/60/EC) for the assessment and monitoring of the ecological quality of surface waters, having as an environmental objective to protect water and achieve good water quality, c) a comprehensive overview of the main threats the inland aquatic ecosystems are facing and the measurements taken for their protection and integrated management, d) the acquisition of competencies in field instrumentation and sampling, e) knowledge on the identification of phytoplankton, zooplankton, benthic macroinvertebrates and fish, f) knowledge on the use of biotic indices and specialized software for statistical analyses (Primer, Canoco), g) the ability to access the online library of Aristotle University and the use of foreign and Greek literature, editing, writing and presenting various relevant to the subject matters individually and / or in groups.
General Competences
- Apply knowledge in practice
- Retrieve, analyse and synthesise data and information, with the use of necessary technologies
- Work autonomously
- Work in teams
- Work in an international context
- Design and manage projects
- Respect natural environment
- Be critical and self-critical
- Advance free, creative and causative thinking
Course Content (Syllabus)
Water (molecular properties, global distribution, hydrological cycle, patterns in hydrology, water bodies), water chemistry (carbon dioxide, major ions, nutrients), water physical characteristics (light), freshwater biota (plant, animals), living in freshwaters (osmoregulation, reproduction, oxygen uptake), patterns in freshwater diversity, headwater streams and rivers (general models of stream ecosystems, flow and discharge, community composition, streams in cold climates and the cold temperate zone, warm temperate streams, the River Continuum Concept), headwater stream and river uses and restoration (eutrophication, pollution, the Water Framework Directive, restoration, rehabilitation), the origin of lake basins, plankton communities of the pelagic zone, standing water uses and restoration (services, fisheries, domestic water supply), dams and reservoirs.
Lab and Fieldwork: Phytoplankton, zooplankton (sampling, identification), macroinvertebrates, fish (identification), biological indices. Sampling for benthic macroinvertebrates and fish in river ecosystems, recording of hydromorphological, physical and chemical characteristics – pressure assessment.
Keywords
Water Framework Directive 2000/60 E.U.
Educational Material Types
- Notes
- Slide presentations
- Book
- e-learning
Use of Information and Communication Technologies
Use of ICT
- Use of ICT in Course Teaching
- Use of ICT in Laboratory Teaching
- Use of ICT in Communication with Students
- Use of ICT in Student Assessment
Description
Power point presentations. Student contact electronically.
Course Organization
| Activities | Workload | ECTS | Individual | Teamwork | Erasmus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laboratory Work | ✓ | ||||
| Fieldwork | ✓ | ||||
| Reading Assigment | ✓ | ||||
| Written assigments | ✓ | ||||
| Exams | ✓ | ||||
| Total |
Student Assessment
Description
Written Examination, Oral Presentation, tests, written assignments. Written reports for laboratory or outdoor exercise, Self-assessment electronically.
1. Each lab exercise is examined orally and by a written test. The laboratory examination of each subject must be successful. The average of the exercise grades counts 25% in the overall score of the course.
2. Final written or oral exam (counts 75% in the overall score).
Consequently, the final grade counts the performance in the laboratory exercises (25%) and the written or oral exam at the end (75%).
Student Assessment methods
- Written Exam with Multiple Choice Questions (Summative)
- Written Exam with Short Answer Questions (Summative)
- Written Exam with Extended Answer Questions (Summative)
- Written Assignment (Formative)
- Oral Exams (Formative, Summative)
Last Update
19-01-2021
