It aims at: a) acquiring the knowledge of the structure and function of river ecosystems focusing on hydromorphological, physico-chemical and in particular on biological elements for assessing and monitoring the ecological quality of surface waters in accordance with the EU Directive (2000/60/EC) having as an environmental objective to protect water and achieve good water quality.b) the public awareness about the protection and integrated management of aquatic ecosystems of inland waters. c) the acquisition of competencies in field instrumentation and sampling, identification of phytoplankton, zooplankton, benthic macroinvertebrates and fish, the use of biotic indices and specialized software for statistical analyses (Primer, Canoco). d) the development of their ability to access the online library of Aristotle University and the use of foreign and greek literature, editing, writing and presentating various relevant to the subject matters individually and / or in groups.
Course
LAKE AND RIVER ECOSYSTEMS
- 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)
- Performance / Staging (Formative, Summative)
- environmental educators, HE students
- 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
- Use of ICT in Course Teaching
- Use of ICT in Laboratory Teaching
- Use of ICT in Communication with Students
- from 2019-10-01 to 2020-02-28
- Dimitra Bobori Associate Professor, School of Biology bobori@bio.auth.gr
Introduction about pollution probems. The Water Framework Directive 2000/60 E.U. Geomorphological features and typology. Physical characteristics of water (light, temperature, discharge, current). Chemical components of water (O2, CO2, ions, pH, nutrients, sulfur, conductivity, TDS, TSS, salinity). Organisms (benthos, plankton, Waterfowl, higher plants), and methods of sampling. Food webs. Productivity. Pollution and Biomonitoring. Management. Anthropogenic influences on running waters. Monitoring. River self purification. Restoration. Case studies. Laboratory exercises: 1. Determination of nutrients. 2. Identification of phytoplankton. 3. Identification of zooplankton. 4. Identification of benthic macroinvertebrates, 5. Use of biotic indices. 6. Identification of fish. 7. Statistical processing. 8. Preparation work for the assessment of the ecological quality of river and lake systems. Outdoor exercises: Sampling benthic macroinvertebrates and fish in river systems, recording hydromorphological, physical and chemical characteristics – pressures and habitat modification.
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. At the end of each lecture, students are asked to answer a number of questions related to the lecture electronically. At the end of their courses they have to present orally by a power point presentation one scientific paper counting 15%. They also have to present data given to them which are statistically analysed and related to multiple environmental parameters (it counts 25%). 3. A computerized exam (in the blackboard) based on multiple choice counts 35% of the final written exam. Consequently for the final grade count the performance in the laboratory exercises (25%), the presentations (40%) and the written exam at the end (35%).
The course is also offered to exchange programme students.