ECTS credits ECTS credits: 3
ECTS Hours Rules/Memories Student's work ECTS: 51 Hours of tutorials: 3 Expository Class: 9 Interactive Classroom: 12 Total: 75
Use languages Spanish, Galician
Type: Ordinary subject Master’s Degree RD 1393/2007 - 822/2021
Center Faculty of Biology
Call: First Semester
Teaching: With teaching
Enrolment: Enrollable
• To know the practical implementation of the European environmental directives in continental aquatic systems
• Understand and be able to analyze the ecological, social and economic impacts caused by anthropogenic pressures
• To know the evaluation tools of the ecological status in the identification of impacts to the ecosystems
• Understand the paleoenvironmental reconstruction tools and their importance in the identification of preimpact reference conditions
• Make a critical use of knowledge of environmental change processes at different time scales, ecological and geological, for environmental restoration
• Be able to synthesize and expose in public the causal relationships between the human pressures that cause impact, and the specific measures of environmental restoration
• Develop capacity for critical discussion and evaluation of scientific data related to the conservation and restoration of aquatic ecosystems
Theories:
1. Biological, hydromorphological and physico-chemical quality elements. Introduction. Environmental legislation: Water Framework Directive DMA and Directive on species and habitats. Ecological status and biodiversity: algae, macrophytes, fish and invertebrates. Current classification systems in aquatic ecosystems. Ecological assets based on species, communities, and ecosystem processes. Ecosystem services of aquatic systems.
2. Paleolimnological indicators. Introduction. Obtaining records. Geochemical indicators: Elemental and isotopic analysis of organic matter and new indicators. Biological indicators: pigments, diatoms, chrysophyceae, pollen, cladocerans, ostracods, chironomids and other groups. Qualitative and quantitative paleoenvironmental reconstructions. Paleolimnological indicators and the WFD. Analysis of cases in conservation and environmental restoration.
3. Degradation factors: Pressures and impacts. Introduction. Anthropic pressure and effect on the components of the fluvial aquatic ecosystem. Eutrophication. Fluvial regulation. Acidification. Pollution. Colmatation, Salinization. Proliferations of toxic algae. Invasive species.
4. Restoration measures. Objectives. Programs of measures focused on the protection and environmental restoration caused by different anthropic pressures. Monitoring of the recovery of ecological assets (species, communities, and ecosystem processes). Study of cases. Project development on existing and real cases.
Other activities (practices, seminars, tutorials)
Field trip to an area of special natural interest in which students will analyze the ecological status of aquatic ecosystems and prepare proposals within a program of measures for the conservation and restoration of the impacted river and riverbank ecosystems in the area, as well as the analysis of the compatibility of uses in the territory with the fulfilment of environmental objectives. A request has been made for the Universidade da Coruña to recognize the subject's practical sessions as a formal Service-Learning project for the 2024/2025 term.
BASIC AND GENERAL SKILLS
CG01 - Acquisition of the capacity to analyze the current and future situation of terrestrial biodiversity
CG02 - Use of the appropriate terminology for the field of terrestrial biodiversity
CG03 - Use sources of information and databases necessary to contribute to the analysis and generate specific information for the field of terrestrial biodiversity
CG05 - Contribute to the development of knowledge in the field of terrestrial biodiversity
CB6 - Possess and understand knowledge that provides a basis or opportunity to be original in the development and / or application of ideas, often in a research context
CB7 - That students know how to apply the knowledge acquired and their ability to solve problems in new or unfamiliar environments within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts related to their area of study
CB8 - That students are able to integrate knowledge and face the complexity of making judgments based on information that, being incomplete or limited, includes reflections on social and ethical responsibilities linked to the application of their knowledge and judgments
CROSS-SECTIONAL SKILLS
CT1 - Analysis and synthesis capacity
CT2 - Capacity for reasoning, argumentation and decision making
SPECIFIC
CE9 - Know the main factors of degradation of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, and restoration strategies
Lecture-explanation: teaching procedure by which the lecturer will present the concepts and/or procedures, providing basic information necessary for understanding the theoretical perspectives or practical procedures, to promote student participation.
Practical class: developed in the field, laboratory, or computer room. Its objectives are to observe in situ aspects of the physical and biological environment, to carry out experiments, and to learn and apply computer software, with the support and supervision of the lecturer.
Workshop: formative methodology aimed at the practical application of learning, which requires that students practice the knowledge acquired, with the support and supervision of the teaching staff.
Continuous evaluation 20
Project 1 40
Project 2 40
Hours On-site presence (%)
Lectures 7 100
Interactive classes 14 100
Tutorials 1 100
Project 2 100
Personal studies 51 0
Total hours of work 75