Program Overview

Program Overview

The Freshwater Ecology course is a single-subject course offered by the University of Copenhagen, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of freshwater ecosystems. The course covers both theoretical and applied aspects of freshwater ecology, including environmental aspects, biota, and complex ecological interactions.

Course Content

The course content is thematic, with an emphasis on how elements of Global Change affect the ecology of fresh waters. Applied aspects of freshwater management are prominent, and the course includes excursions to lakes and streams, as well as practical fieldwork and laboratory work. Important topics covered include:

• The diversity of lakes and running waters in Denmark and globally
• The physico-chemical environment, sources of nutrients, and their transport and turnover
• The biology of plants and animals in lakes and running waters
• Biological interactions in lakes and running waters
• The ecological quality of running waters and how to evaluate it
• Global Change and biodiversity in lakes and running waters
• Restoration of streams and lakes

Learning Outcomes

Upon completing the course, students are expected to achieve a general understanding of the most important freshwater organisms, their relationship with the physical and chemical environment, and biological interactions among different groups of organisms. Specific goals include:

• Describing the biology of the most important groups of organisms in fresh water
• Identifying the most important organisms with respect to specific processes
• Explaining how the physico-chemical environment regulates and affects the most important groups of organisms
• Defining the spatial zones of lakes and running waters
• Describing the important ecological differences and similarities among different types of freshwater systems
• Assessing anthropogenic impacts on freshwater ecosystems in a sustainability perspective

Teaching and Learning Methods

The teaching is organized in themes covering both theoretical and applied aspects of freshwater ecology. The learning outcome is covered by lectures, excursions, demonstrations, group discussions, case studies, and theoretical exercises.

Literature

The course literature is available on Absalon.

Recommended Prerequisites

Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree are recommended. It is recommended that the student has passed the courses "General Ecology/Almen Økologi" and "Field Biology/Feltbiologi I, II og III, part III". A support package of relevant literature is provided for students coming with a different background.

Feedback and Assessment

The course includes continuous feedback during the semester, with written and oral feedback to lab reports and during classes. The exam is an on-site written exam, 4 hours under invigilation, with all aids allowed except Generative AI and internet access.

Course Details

• Course type: Single subject courses (day)
• Workload: 206 hours
• Language: English
• Course number: NBIK14004U
• ECTS: 7.5 ECTS
• Programme level: Full Degree Master
• Duration: 1 block
• Placement: Block 4
• Schedule group: A
• Capacity: No limitation
• Study board: Study Board for the Biological Area
• Contracting department: Department of Biology
• Contracting faculty: Faculty of Science
• Course Coordinators: Jana Isanta-Navarro and Ole Pedersen
• Teachers: Jana Isanta-Navarro, Ole Pedersen, Kirsten S. Christoffersen, Lars Båstrup-Spohr, and Dean Jacobsen, all from the Freshwater Biology Section. PhD students assist during excursions and/or lab exercises.