Freshwater Management, 15 Credits

Contents

This course will evaluate how diverse human activities influence the physical, chemical, and biological properties of freshwater ecosystems. Field and laboratory exercises will focus on learning the monitoring tools currently used to assess the quality of streams, rivers, and lakes. These tools will be further implemented in small, field-based group projects that will address different environmental pressures characteristic of northern Sweden and Umeå (e.g., forestry, agriculture, and urban development). Additional course lectures, discussions, and/or excursions will focus on a broader set of environmental issues that are of both regional and global significance, including stream and river restoration, hydroelectric development, organic pollutants, eutrophication, mining, and aquaculture. These themes will be discussed within the context of current environmental legislation, most notably the EU Water Framework Directive.

The course is divided into the following sections:

Section1, Biomonitoring of freshwater habitats , 5 credits
This section will give a practical summary of freshwater biomonitoring, including habitat assessment and fish and invertebrate collection from streams and rivers. In addition, this section will include an overview of benthic invertebrate taxonomy and life history, including the use of invertebrates to assess water quality.

Part 2, Human impacts on freshwater environments, 10 credits
This section will address how a wide range of human activities affect the chemical and biological properties of freshwater ecosystems. Examples of themes addressed in this section include nutrient loading and eutrophication, acidification, agricultural land use, mining and metals emissions, and the effects of forestry and hydroelectric development. This section will also cover issues related to the remediation of freshwater ecosystems, with an emphasis on local restoration efforts in boreal Sweden.
Finally, this section will address water-related environmental objectives, including the EU Water Framework Directive, and other the current environmental legislation.

Expected learning outcomes

1 Describe the elements of a rigorous water quality monitoring program
2 Plan and execute the physical, chemical, and biological sampling of streams and rivers
3 Identify common benthic macroinvertebrates to use these groups in the biomonitoring of aquatic ecosystems
4 Analyze and compare the effects of different anthropogenic disturbances/stressor on freshwater ecosystems
5 Explain the principles of aquatic ecosystem restoration and evaluate the success of different restoration efforts
6 Explain key environmental legislation related to water quality, including the Water Framework Directive.

Required Knowledge

60 ECTS in biology of which 15 in ecology, or 60 ETCS in earth science and 15 in ecology, or 60 ECTS in environmental science and 15 in ecology, or the equivalent.

Proficiency in English equivalent to Swedish upper secondary course English A/5. Where the language of instruction is Swedish, applicants must prove proficiency in Swedish to the level required for basic eligibility for higher studies.

Form of instruction

The course will include lectures, project studies, laboratory work, field sampling, presentations, report writing, and excursions. Excursions, laboratory work, field sampling, and presentations are compulsory. These teaches methods that later needed in working life.

Examination modes

Examination takes place through written reports and written exams. The rating given on the sections and the whole course is Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG). Anyone who pass the tests can not retake them to obtain higher grades. To pass the entire course all tests and compulsory parts are approved. The grade of the the course is based on all examinations and is set only after all mandatory elements are approved. A student who has failed two tests for a course or a part of a course, are entitled to have another examiner appointed, unless there are specific reasons against it (HF 6 chap. 22§). Requests for new examiners are made to the head of the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science.

Crediting
Students have the right to have their previous education or equivalent knowledge and skills acquired in the profession tested wether it can be credited for the corresponding course at Umeå University. Application for credit is submitted to the Student Centre / Examinations. For more information on credit transfer available on Umeå University's student web, www.student.umu.se, and the Higher Education Ordinance (Chapter 6). A refusal of accreditation may be appealed against (Higher Education Ordinance Chapter 12) to the University Appeals Board. This applies to the whole as well as part of the application if accreditation is refused.