GEOGG070 Aquatic Systems
Term 1 (2013)
Staff:
Carl Sayer, Richard Taylor, Jon French, Viv Jones, Jill Goddard (Thames Estuary Partnership), Geoff Phillips (Environment Agency), Ian Patmore
Aims:
- to provide an introduction to Aquatic Environmental Science
- to outline a holistic framework suitable for understanding the structure and function of aquatic systems and current management and legislative issues.
Content:
This overview course will proceed logically in describing aquatic systems along a continuum from the mountain zone to the coastal shelf. It will introduce the importance of geomorphological, hydrological, physico-chemical and microbial processes and outlining key ecological concepts, and will highlight contemporary ideas regarding aquatic system management and restoration and their relevance to developing ‘water legislation’. Themes developed during this course will ”flow” throughout the Aquatic Science programme and will link closely with activities undertaken on the various field classes. The following topics will be covered:
- Aquatic environments: mountain zone to the coastal shelf
- Geomorphology-hydrology linkages
- Hydrology-chemistry linkages
- Aquatic ecology
- Ecological restoration, timescales and target setting
- Water policy: Institutional and legislative frameworks
Assessment:
Course essay on general themes raised
Format:
The course is based upon lectures and class discussion and will also be informed by the Norfolk field class and a one day fieldtrip to Burton Mill Pond, Sussex Downs for sediment coring (Saturday 13th October).
Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the course students should:
- understand the diversity of aquatic habitats and linkages between them
- be able to conceptualise the key importance of linkages between geomorphological, hydrological, physico-chemical and ecological processes
- recognise the importance of spatial-temporal and interdisciplinary frameworks to the scientific understanding of aquatic ecosystems
- understand the factors and legislative frameworks which drive and underpin ‘water policy’ and the key importance of stake holder relationships to successful aquatic conservation
