Introduction to Freshwater Ecology
2380208 (3 0)3

Catalogue Description

This course aims to introduce the non-biology students to freshwater ecosystems. Therefore, the topics of the course will be covered at introductory level. The emphasis will be on developing an understanding of properties of water, interaction of freshwater ecosystems with land and atmosphere and their origins. The course will focus on the interactions of chemical, physical and ecological characteristics of freshwater bodies including plankton, aquatic plants, fish and productivity of the edges and bottoms of rivers and lakes. The course will also provide information on the alteration of freshwater bodies caused by human activities.

Reference Books

• Ecology of Freshwaters: Man and Medium
  1988
  B. Moss
  Blackwell Scientific Publication.
• Freshwater Ecology: Principles and Applications
  1995.
  M, Jeffries & D, Mills
  John Wiley & Sons

Objectives

Due to increase in the world population, accelerated effects of human intrusion on freshwater systems has caused major water quality problems and loss of their ecological values. This is an interdisciplinary problem that concerns freshwater ecologist as well as the other disciplines. Therefore, it is vital to develop a better insight into the ways the ecological interactions work in freshwater bodies, and it is also important to develop an awareness of the ecological point of view.

Outline

1. On living water (2)
2. The chemical birth of freshwater (3)
3. Upland streams and Rivers (3)
4. Lowland Rivers and their flood plains (5)
5. Lakes, Pools and other standing water bodies- some basic features of their productivity (8)
6. Plankton and fish communities of the open water (6)
7. The edges and Bottom of lakes and their communities (4)
8. The Birth, development and passing of lakes (3)

the figures in parenthesis indicate the number of hours that the topics will be covered.