BB825: Environmental quality and assessment of pollution in streams

Study Board of Science

Teaching language: Danish or English depending on the teacher, but English if international students are enrolled
EKA: N110029102, N110029112
Assessment: Second examiner: None
Grading: Pass/Fail
Offered in: Odense
Offered in: Spring
Level: Master's level course approved as PhD course

STADS ID (UVA): N110029101
ECTS value: 5

Date of Approval: 30-10-2023


Duration: 1 semester

Version: Approved - active

Comment

Please note that the course includes a stay at the field station Svanninge Bjerge in week 17.
A small fee will be charged, by a web pay link, that will cover the cost of meals during the field course.

The course has limited seats and in case of too many applications, priority is given to the timely registration by date of registration.

Entry requirements

None

Academic preconditions

Students taking the course are expected to:
  • Have knowledge of aquatic ecology e.g. as gained in the courses BB547 and BB548.

Participant limit

20

Course introduction

Students will learn about stream maintenance and reestablishment of disturbed streams, stream ecology and pollution, and hydrology and hydrometrics. The aim of the course is primarely to enable the student to assess the quality of a stream from fauna samples, flora, and physical diversity according to Danish standards. 
The course builds on the knowledge acquired in the courses Ecology, BB510 or similar. 

In relation to the competence profile of this study program, the course has an explicit focus on:
  • The course provides the students with expert knowledge in stream ecology through readings of classic international papers.
  • The students learn to master the scientific theories in stream ecology and the foundation for the methods in stream ecology research.
  • The students learn to master the methods used in practical work as stream biologist.
  • The students train to plan and conduct scientific studies in the field.
  • The students train writing of scientific reports and oral presentation based on their own results.
  • The students strengthen their skills in teamwork.

Expected learning outcome

The learning objective of the course is that the student demonstrates the ability to:
  • Use biological and physical indeces
  • Enterpretate and evaluate results from the most used fauna indeces
  • Set up realistic targets for stream quality in relation to soil type and land-use in the watershed
  • Conduct hydrometric measurements and calculations

Content

The following main topics are contained in the course:
  • Introduction to legislation related to stream management
  • Hydrology and hydrometry
  • Physical elements and indeces in streams
  • Stream ecology
  • Stream pollution
  • Stream restoration
  • Biological assessment of stream quality

Literature

See itslearning for syllabus lists and additional literature references.

Examination regulations

Exam element a)

Timing

Spring

Prerequisites

Type Prerequisite name Prerequisite course
Examination part Prerequisites for participating in the exam element a) N110029101, BB825: Environmental quality and assessment of pollution in streams

Tests

Report and oral presentation

EKA

N110029102

Assessment

Second examiner: None

Grading

Pass/Fail

Identification

Full name and SDU username

Language

Normally, the same as teaching language

Examination aids

Allowed aids are reports and notes

ECTS value

5

Additional information

The examination consists of an overall assessment of the report and oral presentation with follow-up questions.

Prerequisites for participating in the exam element a)

Timing

Spring

Tests

Compulsory participation in excursion

EKA

N110029112

Assessment

Second examiner: None

Grading

Pass/Fail

Identification

Full name and SDU username

Language

Normally, the same as teaching language

Examination aids

To be announced during the course 

ECTS value

0

Additional information

The excursion is 6 days long.
The prerequisite examination is a prerequisite for participation in exam element a)

Indicative number of lessons

52 hours per semester

Teaching Method

On the Faculty of Science, the teaching is organized according to the three-phase model, ie. intro, the training and study phase.
The teaching activities result in an estimated indicative distribution of the work effort of an average student in the following way:

  • Intro phase (lecture) Number of hours: 8
  • Training phase: 44 hours, of which: Tutorial: 4 hours and Laboratory exercises: 40 hours

Educational form: 8-9 hours lectures with demonstration of methods is followed by a field trip to the field station Svanninge Bjerge. Report work is being supervised both during the field trip and at the following 4 hours class.

Educational activities : The study phase is used for reading the syllabus that is not presented in the intro phase and for writing the report from the field course.

Teacher responsible

Name E-mail Department
Erik Tveskov tveskov@biology.sdu.dk Biologisk Institut
Sara Egemose saege@biology.sdu.dk Biologisk Institut

Timetable

Administrative Unit

Biologisk Institut

Team at Educational Law & Registration

NAT

Offered in

Odense

Recommended course of study

Profile Education Semester Offer period

Transition rules

Transitional arrangements describe how a course replaces another course when changes are made to the course of study. 
If a transitional arrangement has been made for a course, it will be stated in the list. 
See transitional arrangements for all courses at the Faculty of Science.