River water quality

Ecology and management of running waters

Objectives

Knowledge of the fundamental structure and function of rivers and lakes focusing on the hydromorphological, chemical and biological elements required by the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) for the evaluation and monitoring of the ecological status of freshwaters. After the successful completion of the course, the student will have obtained skills as the use of field polymeters, realise field sampling, perform species identification of phytoplankton, zooplankton and macroinvertebrate organisms, use of biotic indices, use of specialised software (for statistical analyses), use of bibliography, analysing, writing and presenting relative subjects and working individually or in groups.

Prerequisites

Expected prior knowledge/prerequisites and preparation   None

Syllabus

Awareness on protection and management of freshwater ecosystems: Introduction Water Framework Directive Hydrology and Ecology of Running Waters and Wetlands Anthropogenic Influences on running water hydromorphology and water quality Monitoring Restoration and River Self purification Physicochemical characteristics (light, temperature, water movement, O2, CO2, ions + pH, nutrients + sulphur + conductivity, TDS, TSS, salinity etc.) Organisms and sampling methods (benthos + plankton + nekton + macrophytes) Food webs - Productivity Pollution and studies of special cases Management and Restoration