GEOG3042
RESTORATION AND MANAGEMENT OF FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS
Helen Bennion, Neil Rose, Roger Flower and Carl Sayer
Unit value: 0.5 unit Year: 3 Term: 2
Brief course description
This course is concerned with how freshwater, especially lake, ecosystem structure and function is changed by human activity (e.g. eutrophication, acidification, toxic substances, salinisation) and highlights issues confounding remediation strategies, especially future climate change. It includes a consideration of the legislative framework within which freshwater ecosystems are managed nationally and internationally and is exemplified by case studies.
Course aims:
To explore problems of freshwater ecology and management especially in the context of current national and international policies for ecosystem restoration.
Content of course
- Introduction to freshwater ecosystems
- Ecological problems:
- eutrophication
- acidification
- toxic substances
- climate change
- enhanced sedimentation rates
- Restoration concepts, including reference conditions
- Factors confounding restoration and recovery
- The legislative framework, including EU directives and UNECE protocols
- Tracking remediation success by monitoring
Course structure
The course will consist of a series of one-hour lectures from UCL lecturers and outside speakers.
Form of assessment:
One 2000-word course paper on a relevant topic of your choice (50%), and an unseen exam paper of two hours with two essay questions from six (50%).
Prior knowledge
Students should be familiar with basic ecological principles and concepts as they relate to fresh waters. A natural science background would be an advantage, but is not essential.
Relationship with other courses
This course builds on some aspects of first year GEOG 1005 “Environmental Change” second year GEOG 2007 “Ecological patterns and processes” and second year GEOG 2008 “Reconstructing past environments”. It is also a stepping stone to the MSc course in “Aquatic Science”.
