ENVIRONMENT
The Freshwater Detective
AUTUMN HN102
Mondays and Saturdays
Fresh water is fundamental to our very existence. Ireland has a rich abundance of rivers and lakes and this course will cover the sources of this unique resource and how water in all of its forms is assimilated into the landscape. We will learn how the underlying geology and topography of the landscape defines the animal and plant communities present in these waters. The course will teach the students the basics of becoming a Freshwater Detective and how the presence or absence of specific insects and crustacea can be used to tell the quality of the water. The students will learn how to read a river corridor or lake shore and the basics of river side conservation and management. We will cover the fish species present in our rivers and lakes and look at the history of invasions and transplantations of non-native fish species and the impact this is having on our native flora and fauna. The course will comprise six talks with slides and video clips and four one day field visits to locations in Dublin and Wicklow. The approach is conversational and relaxed. No previous knowledge is required.
See 'The Freshwater Detective 'Ken Whelan on TV3's 'The Morning Show',by clicking on the link below and scrolling to the 15-minute mark
http://www.tv3.ie/3player/show/155/53284/1/The-Morning-Show
| BELFIELD | ||
| 6 Mondays | Oct 8, 15, 22, Nov 5, 12, 19 | 7.30pm - 9.30pm |
|
3 Saturday Field Trips |
Oct 20 - Grand Canal Nov 10 - River Dodder Nov 17 - River Dargle and Bray Aquarium |
10.00am - 13.00pm 10.00am - 13.00pm 10.00am - 12.00pm |
| FEE €190 | Print Open Learning Application Form 2012.13 or ring (01) 716-7123 for Laser/credit card payment | |
Tutor Details:
Ken Whelan works as an environmental and fisheries consultant - http://www.kenwhelan.info/. He is also an Adjunct Professor in UCD’s School of Biology and Environmental Science. Ken was until recently Chairman of the Biodiversity Forum but is best known for his work on the Atlantic salmon. Ken is involved with a major science programme examining why salmon are dying at sea – www.salmonatsea.com. He has also produced, presented and scripted many films and videos on various aspects of Irish fisheries and angling. He is a regular radio contributor to the Mooney Goes Wild programme.
Who is the course for?
The course is suitable for anybody who has an interest in the freshwater aquatic environment and wishes to learn more about the many fascinating creatures which inhabit our rivers and streams. No previous technical knowledge is required.
Course Material:
No core text books required but students could visit the following websites:
- Inland Fisheries Ireland: www.fisheriesireland.ie
- Environmental Protection Agency: www.epa.ie
- Marine Institute: www.marine.ie
- Wild Trout Trust: www.wildtrout.org
