ENVB40120 Freshwater Resources Assessment

Academic Year 2023/2024

The overall aim of this course is to equip students with the skills (theoretical backgrounds and practical methods) to participate in freshwater studies and reporting on water quality with particular emphasis on the detection of impacts from land-use activities. It commences with an overview of the range of freshwater habitats and their physico-chemical and biological characteristics. This includes instruction to the basic biology of key aquatic biota such as macroinvertebrates. Pollution types, sources and impacts are outlined. The main part of the course deals with assessment of water quality and the focus is on the requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive. Concepts and issues explored include ecosystem health/integrity, stress factors, reference or ecological target conditions, physical habitat description, lake and river typologies, design of monitoring programmes, monitoring using fish, invertebrates and plants; rapid bioassessment assessment protocols, hydromorphological degradation, multimetric vs multivariate approaches, biological indicators, sub-lethal stress indicators, analyses and interpretation of macroinvertebrates data, biotic metrics and indices.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should:
- have acquired knowledge of basic concepts in freshwater ecology,
- be able to confidently design or review a monitoring programme to detect potential impacts of land-use activities on water quality,
- have basic knowledge of methodologies for collection and processing of water and biological samples,
- have ability to interpret biological and chemical water-quality data,
- have sufficient knowledge to read and communicate water quality information in reports,
- appreciate the requirement of the Water Framework Directive (WFD),
- recognise the ecological basis of the WFD requirements,
- be able to source and review freshwater research literature and
- work as a team to compile reports and make oral presentations.

Indicative Module Content:

Overview of water resources in Ireland and water quality challenges
Freshwater habitats – physical and biological components
The Water Framework Directive (WFD)
WFD cont. typological classification & reference conditions
WFD cont. monitoring and programme of measures
WFD Metrics & Risk Assessment
Hydrochemical characteristics – an introduction
Environmental Pollutants: Phosphorus
Environmental Pollutants: Nitrogen
Environmental Pollutants: Sediment
Forest-mediated acidification
Environmental Pollutants: Heavy metals
Environmental Pollutants: Contaminants from highway drainage
Bioassessment to detect environmental pollutants and evaluate water quality
Introduction to biological indicators
Key concepts
Range of biological indicators in use
Sampling methods
Approaches to analyses of biological data (unimetric, multimetric & multivariate)
Calculation of water quality metrics including biotic indices
Application of species traits to determine water quality
Other analyses (e.g. use of stable isotopes)
Designing monitoring programmes

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

12

Practical

18

Field Trip/External Visits

7

Specified Learning Activities

28

Autonomous Student Learning

60

Total

125

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures given but students are also given access to online lectures. Much of the face-to-face time is devoted to workshops with practical exercises to reinforce the theory covered. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Examination: One 2-hour written examination 2 hour End of Trimester Exam No Graded No

50

Assignment: Group and individual reports Varies over the Trimester n/a Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No

50


Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Summer No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback will be provided on the individual continuous assessment components within 20 days of their submission.

Name Role
Ms Elizabeth Conroy Tutor
Mr Cesar Scrochi Tutor
Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
 
Spring
     
Practical Offering 1 Week(s) - 21, 22, 23, 24 Fri 09:00 - 12:00
Field Trip Offering 1 Week(s) - 20 Fri 09:00 - 14:50
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 Tues 13:00 - 14:50
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 21, 23, 24 Wed 12:00 - 13:50
Spring