About this course

The course covers the most important physical and chemical environmental variables in running waters, followed by topics such as energy flows and other major processes in freshwaters, eutrophication, organic pollution, acidification, climate change, hydropower, ecosystem services, and bioindication including the EU Water Framework Directive. The students give a seminar on selected parts of the syllabus. A field excursion followed by laboratory exercises provides a practical introduction to watercourse investigations.

Learning outcome

Knowledge The students will after the course be able to explain the most important ecological processes in rivers and lakes (with a focus on rivers) and apply this knowledge to relevant topics in watercourse management. The students will be able to assess ecological status of a water body, and critically assess own and published results.

Skills The students will after the course be able to acquire detailed knowledge from scientific articles, give a presentation on a topic related to watercourse management, and critically discuss scientific results.

Competence The students should after the course be able to understand challenges in watercourse management and contribute with solutions.

  • Learning activities

    Lectures by the responsible and contributing teachers. The students prepare a topic and give a seminar for the other participants of the course. There will be a one-day field trip followed by two days in the laboratory, resulting in a group report on the ecological status in a Norwegian watercourse.

  • Teaching support

    The teacher is available for support both directly and by e-mail during office hours.

  • Syllabus

    Lectures, seminar, selected scientific papers.

    Relevant background reading:

    Allan, J. D. og Castillo, M.M. 2021. Stream Ecology - structure and function of running waters. Springer.

    Giller & Hildrew 2023. The Biology and Ecology of Streams and Rivers. Oxford University Press.

  • Prerequisites

    VANN210, or equivalent

  • Assessment method

    Oral exam.

    Oral exam Karakterregel: Letter grades Hjelpemiddel: A1 No calculator, no other aids

  • About use of AI

    In the group report and the seminar contribution, AI can be used for brainstorming and language checking. Use of AI must be described with a brief explanation of which program you have used and how the program is used in the text. The group is responsible for the final content of the text after the language check.

    Descriptions of AI-category codes.

  • Examiner scheme

    An external examiner is used for the oral exam.

  • Mandatory activity

    • Mandatory attendance on the first course day (due to the restricted number of places).
    • Seminar on a selected part of the syllabus.
    • Field trip and laboratory work which is the basis for a group report.
    • The seminar and the group report that has to be judged as passed.

  • Notes

    Registration for the course no later than 20. january. After this, the 28 places in the course will be distributed.

  • Teaching hours

    Lectures, seminars, field work, laboratory work: 50 hours

  • Preferential right

    M-ECOL, M-NF and M-MILJØ.

  • Admission requirements

    Special requirements in Science