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Advanced theories and concepts of freshwater ecology and their practical application to current issues.
This course provides a thorough grounding in the ecology of freshwater ecosystems, including lakes wetlands and rivers. It covers the most important concepts that underpin our understanding of these ecosystems, but given the imperilled plight of fresh waters around the world, there is a heavy emphasis on practical applications for solving current problems. A highlight of the course is a residential field course based at the University’s Cass field station and visiting the West Coast. The field course hones practical skills in association with quantitative state-of-the-environment monitoring and team-based project work. Laboratory sessions prior to the trip develop basic physical and chemical sampling procedures, as well as macroinvertebrate identification, and are complemented by fish sampling and investigation of the wide range of aquatic systems. Moreover, by combining this practical expertise with detailed knowledge of how freshwater ecosystems work and the main approaches to managing them, students will be well placed for a diverse range of careers connected to freshwater ecosystems and the resources they provide.
As a student in this course, I will develop the ability to:Understand current topics in freshwater ecology and their application to management of freshwater ecosystems locally, nationally and internationally (assessment: on-line quizzes) GP1, 2 & 5Understand through experience the characteristics of freshwater ecosystems, the threats they face and the connections of people, including Māori, with those ecosystems. (discussions on field trip) GP3 & 4Develop practical skills including species identification, experimental design, data analysis (assessment: identifications & interpretations; Research report) GP1 & 2Improve scientific communication skills, including report writing and use of the literature (assessment: Research report, non-assessed: field trip oral presentation) GP 1 & 2Conduct field work safely (field trip preparation and conducting field work for Research report) GP 2Transferable Skills / Pūkenga NgaioAs a student in this course, I will develop the following skills:Discovery, synthesis and interpretation of information. Combining information from lectures, course readings, the literature, and field trip in discussions on the field trip and course assessment. GP2Formation of hypotheses and explanations in the development of a research project. The field trip will include discussions to develop hypotheses that can be tested in the field trip research. GP2Conducting safe field work in hazardous outdoor environments. Before the field trip a health & safety discussion will occur focusing on identifying, eliminating, mitigating or minimizing hazards. GP2Knowledge of field sampling protocols for freshwaters, conducting water quality testing, and identification of benthic invertebrates and fish. We will carry out a range of exercises to illustrate useful field methods; the field trip will assess identification skills. GP1&2Data analysis and interpretation. Initial analysis of data will occur on the field trip, and appropriate further analysis methods discussed for use in field trip reports.GP1&2Writing a report in scientific format using text and graphs. Initial discussion on the field trip, and sessions about style, good graph design will be conducted. GP2Be aware of the nature of multiple cultures in Aotearoa New Zealand as it applies to freshwater native species as taonga and mahinga kia. We will discuss the concept of taonga species and Māori perspectives on mahinga kia (freshwater food). GP3.GP1, GP2, etc, refer to Graduate Profile attributes: (1) Critically competent in a core academic discipline of their degree; (2) employable, innovative and enterprising; (3) biculturally competent and confident; (4) engaged with the community; and (5) globally aware.
BIOL209 and either (1) BIOL270 or (2) BIOL274 and BIOL275
Students must attend one activity from each section.
Field TripStudents enrolling in the course should be available on for the field trip between Monday 26th August - Saturday 31st August.The field trip is compulsory and is a major in-term assessment. To attend the field course, you need to be capable of safely carrying out physical activities in the outdoors including walking in riverbeds and steep slopes, and we will be living in bunkroom style accommodation at the Cass Field Station with group-catered food.
Jonathan Tonkin , Helen Warburton , Tadeu Siqueira , Shaun Ogilvie and Angus McIntosh
Kim Doherty
Harding, Jon S. , New Zealand Hydrological Society., New Zealand Limnological Society; Freshwaters of New Zealand ; New Zealand Hydrological Society ; New Zealand Limnological Society, 2004 ((This is available as a pdf – free from http://www.biol.canterbury.ac.nz/ferg/educate.shtml)).
Jellyman, Phillip G. et al; Advances in New Zealand freshwater science ; [Updated edition]; New Zealand Hydrological Society : New Zealand Limnological Society, 2016 (See http://freshwater.science.org.nz).
Smith, T. M. , Smith, Leo Robert; Elements of ecology ; 9th edition; Pearson, 2015.
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Domestic fee $1,242.00
International fee $5,816.00
* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.
For further information see School of Biological Sciences .