Wetlands
2380478 (3 0)3

Catalogue Description

This course is designed to provide the student with an overview of the basic structure and function of wetlands, controlling factors for their distribution and community composition, major environmental problems worldwide, appropriate management techniques, and developing approaches for their utilization and conservation. Particular emphasis will be placed on understanding relationship and changes along gradients of wetlands hydrology, biogeochemistry, and different group of species including bacteria, plants and animals.

Text Book

• Wetlands,
  2000
  W.J. Mitsch and J.G. Gosselink.,
  3rd edition.

Reference Book

• Wetlands Ecology: Principles and conservation,
  Paul A. Keddy

Objectives

Primary aim of this course is provide an introduction on major features of wetland ecosystems. Although they are among the most productive ecosystems, wetlands have disappeared at alarming rates throughout the developed and developing world. Now wetlands many values are being recognized, and wetland protection is the norm of many parts of the world. Considering the threats that wetlands have faced with, this course aims to develop a better insight into how wetlands function through chain of hydrological, physical, chemical and ecological interactions. Furthermore, delivering information human impact on wetlands, and restoration of deteriorated ones are among the goals of this course.

Outline

Week 1	Wetlands: Human History, use and science
Week 2	Wetland Hydrology
Week 3	Wetland Biochemistry
Week 4-5	Biological adaptations to the wetland environment
Week 6	Wetland ecosystem development
Mid-term 1
Week 7-8	Coastal Wetlands: Tidal salt and freshwater marshes
Week 9-10	Inland wetlands: Freshwater marshes, swamps and riparian ecosystems
Week 11-12	Values and Valuation of Wetlands
Mid-term 2
Week 13	Human impacts and management of wetlands
Week 14	Wetland creation and restoration

Lecturers of the course

• Assoc.Prof.Dr. Meryem Beklioglu
• Professor Thomas Crisman,
  Director, Howard T. Odum Center for Wetlands,
  Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida