Duration
20h Th, 4d FW
Number of credits
| Bachelor in biology | 3 crédits |
Lecturer
Coordinator
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the second semester
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
Based on the fundamental notions of ecology taught in the 2nd bachelor's degree in biology, the ecology of freshwaters (lentic systems and lotic systems) is tackled by studying the main aquatic communities and community-environment relationships.
The concepts related to the physico-chemistry of water that supports life in aquatic ecosystems will be reviewed before the study of organisms and aquatic ecosystems is discussed.
The structure and functioning of phytoplankton communities at the base of food chains are presented. The biology of the major zooplanktonic organisms, the phenology, and the structure of zooplankton communities (lotic and lentic) will also be studied. The structure of aquatic macroinvertebrate as well as the role of these organisms in freshwater food webs will be studied.
These notions will enable students to understand the sharing of spatial and food resources of species within their ecological niche as part of an in situ study in the field of Biology Station Paimpont (Brittany). These data will be used in the assessment of the ecological and physicochemical quality of inland waters (lotic and lentic systems).
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
At the end of this teaching unit, the student will be able to understand the factors governing the regulation of the populations encountered in the major freshwater ecosystems and consequently also the structure of these populations, their phenologies according to the seasonal evolution of physical and chemical parameters and biotic factors (sharing of spatial and food resources, intra- and interspecific competitions). Students will have acquired skills in the characterization and dynamics of phytoplankton communities, determination of different types of freshwater planktonic organisms and large benthic invertebrate groups. Students will also have skills in collecting planktonic and benthic organisms and handling them; they will be able to use keys for the determination of different types (dichotomous, numerical) for various groups of organisms (rotifers, cladocerans, molluscs, benthic crustaceans, insect larvae). They will also have acquired theoretical and practical knowledge of continental water quality assessment tools.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Basics notions of general ecology seen in the 2nd bachelor's degree in biology as part of the course "Biodiversity and Ecology".
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Ex-cathedra course with active participation of students; theoretical aspects integrated into the practical aspects during field studies in different types of aquatic ecosystems in the vicinity of the biological scientific station of Paimpont (France, University of Rennes).
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Ex-cathedra course with active participation of students; field studies during a 4 day stay at the biological scientific station of (Paimpont, France, University of Rennes).
Organisational adjustments related to the current health context
The ex-cathedra courses and the field trip may be adapted according to the health context and the directives accompanying it.
Recommended or required readings
Notes to help understand the theoretical course provide information on the concepts to acquire. Illustrations in the form of power-point presentations and notes are available on e-campus. Students should relate the notes and illustrations as well as the additional information given in the theory courses to build their own course notes.
Limnology books are available on request, for example:
- Limnology, R.G. Wetzel
- Limnoecology, W. Lampert & U. Sommer
- General Limnology, R. Pourriot & M. Meybeck
Note: The course materials on the Internet are only intended for use by students as part of their curriculum at the University of Liège. No other use or dissemination is allowed, otherwise it will constitute a violation of the law of June 30, 1994 relating to copyright. The course materials on the Internet do not represent the entire subject matter but constitute the basic and indispensable basic notes to the good knowledge of it
Assessment methods and criteria
Below you will find information on the evaluation methods planned for in-person and remote exams as well as those planned for hybrid sessions. Depending on how the health crisis evolves, the chosen method will be communicated to you no later than one month before the start of the exam session.
Any session :
- In-person
written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire, open-ended questions )
- Remote
written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire, open-ended questions )
- If evaluation in "hybrid"
preferred in-person
Additional information:
The evaluation of the course will include two tests:
- a written evaluation of practical fieldwork organized at the end of the course in the form of an open-book written quiz (MCQ) which accounts for 40% of the final grade of the course;
- a closed-book written exam with a mark of 60% of the final grade.
Participation in the field course is compulsory. Unjustified absence from these activities will result in the application of Article 41 of the Regulations of Studies and Examinations, namely that the student will not be admitted to the exam.
These evaluations will taken place either on site (if the sanitary situation allows it) or on-line (e-campus).
Work placement(s)
A Freshwater ecology course is organized at the Biology Station Paimpont (Brittany) dependent on the University of Rennes. This internship constitutes the major part of the "practical field work" of the freshwater ecology course.
This station is located in a privileged site where many aspects of freshwater ecology and the study of aquatic animal biodiversity can be approached without the need for long trips. A stream, two ponds and several ponds are on the site of the station itself located in the heart of the Brocéliande forest. It is therefore a wooded environment.
The themes addressed concern:
- the study of the biodiversity of freshwater aquatic invertebrates (lentic and lotic facies)
- the study of phyto- and freshwater zooplankton
- the evaluation of the biological quality of water masses by the use of several biotic and physico-chemical indices.
Organizational remarks
The freshwater ecology course takes place at the Biology Station Paimpont (Brittany) dependent on the University of Rennes. This academic year 2020-2021, it will take place from the 14th to the 19th of May 2021. Students will travel to the station Paimpont on their own. The train is the most economical solution (round trip € 120).
The students will be divided into 3 groups and each of these groups will manage a different activity each day. The groups will have to present a summary of the observations made within the different thematic areas.
The subsidy allocated by the University covers all the expenses of the stay. An increase in the price of the stay will lead, if necessary, to an increase in the cost of the internship. The difference will be settled on site
Contacts
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