spring 2024
BIO-3518 Northern inland waters and global change - 10 ECTS
Admission requirements
Local admission, application code 9371 -- Master`s level singular course. Admission requires a Bachelor`s degree (180 ECTS) or equivalent qualification, with a major in biology of minimum 80 ECTS.
BSc- or MSc-level course work in ecology , chemistry, and freshwater or marine science is highly recommended, but not required.
Course content
Students will gain an interdisciplinary perspective on key physical, chemical and biological processes driving northern inland waters in the context of ongoing global change. The focus of the course is on the ecology of Arctic and subarctic aquatic ecosystems, including lakes and rivers, and taking a ‘catchment to coast’ approach. This course covers the following main subjects: limnology, hydrology, biogeochemistry, stream ecology, and food web ecology. In addition, ecological stoichiometry, ecosystem ecology, and meta-ecosystem ecology will be covered as sub-themes. The above-mentioned topics will also be presented in the context of how ongoing global changes, including changes to temperature, precipitation patterns, and chemical cycling can affect the ecology and biogeochemistry of northern inland waters and the ecosystem services they provide.Objectives of the course
Students will learn:
- Fundamental concepts in limnology and freshwater ecology, with a focus on key physical, chemical and biological processes in northern streams, rivers and lakes
- The role of inland waters in the northern landscape, taking a ‘catchment to coast’ approach to understand links between land, inland waters and the sea.
- Key impacts of ongoing global change (climate change in particular) on northern inland waters and the services they provide
- Selected current field and lab methods in limnology and freshwater ecology, including analysis and interpretation of resulting data
Students will have the ability to:
- Actively engage with scientific literature in the fields of limnology, freshwater ecology, and global change ecology
- Synthesize and integrate concepts presented in lectures, course readings, and hands-on activities
- Apply core methods in field sampling, lab analysis, and data interpretation
- Take an interdisciplinary and holistic approach when discussing key drivers, processes, and ongoing changes in northern inland waters, and how this understanding can be applied for management of these ecosystems.
General competence:
- Acquire a critical view of published scientific literature on the topic
- Competence in leading discussion sessions with peers
- Understand scientific literature, interpret figures and data, write reports and present scientific literature to a diverse audience
Teaching methods
The course consists of lectures, seminars, and field/laboratory activities. Safety training for laboratory and field work will be provided by the instructor(s) before starting each activity.
The combination of targeted lectures, interactive seminars/discussions (e.g. paper critiques, student-led discussion panels/debates), and hands on activities (field work, lab analysis, data skills development through problem sets) will provide students with the expertise and knowledge to further develop their skills and competence within northern inland freshwater ecosystems.
Schedule
Recommended reading/syllabus
Pensumliste for BIO-3518 Northern inland waters and global change (VÅR 2023)Examination
| Examination: | Date: | Duration: | Grade scale: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oral exam | 29.05.2024–30.05.2024 | 30 Minutes | A–E, fail F |
Coursework requirements:To take an examination, the student must have passed the following coursework requirements: |
|||
| Participation to seminars | Approved – not approved | ||
| Written assignement | Approved – not approved | ||
More info about the coursework requirements
Participation in seminars is mandatory. In addition, students will be required to deliver small written assignments and are expected to participate actively to seminar discussions and field and lab activities.
Approved work requirements have a duration of 3 years, from the semester in which the work requirements were taken.
- About the course
- Campus: Tromsø |
- ECTS: 10
- Course code: BIO-3518
- Responsible unit
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology
- Questions about the course
- E-post: ambstudie@hjelp.uit.no