Experimental Aquatic Ecology

Timetable

Module aim (aims)

- Introducing culturing techniques of aquatic organisms; - Familiarize with experimental approach in solving ecological problems; - Training in experimental design and data analyses;

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

Syllabus

Week 1: Overview of Culturing and Experimental Techniques in Aquatic Ecology (Lecture: 2h); Cultivation Techniques of Experimental Organisms (Laboratory: 3h); Week 2: The Role of Light and Temperature in Aquatic Ecosystems (Lecture: 2h); The Effect of Light on Interspecific Interactions – Part 1 (Laboratory: 3h); Week 3: The Experimental Approaches to Food-Web Studies (Lecture: 2h); The Effect of Temperature on Interspecific Interactions – Part 2 (Laboratory: 3h); Week 4: Experiments Design, Data Analyses and Interpretation (Lecture: 2h) The Role of Body Size on Prey – Predator Interactions (Laboratory: 3h); Week 5: Feeding Rates of Grazers on Phytoplankton (Laboratory: 3h); Week 6: Inducible Defences Against Herbivory/Predation (Laboratory: 3h); Week 7: Designing and conducting own experiment (Laboratory: 3h); Week 8: Designing and conducting own experiment – data analysis and interpretation (Laboratory: 3h);

Reading list

Wetzel R.G., Likens G.E. Limnological analyses. Springer, ISBN:0-387-98928-5; Lampert W., Sommer U. Limnoecology. Oxford University Press, ISBN: 9780199213931; Ruxton G.D., Colegrave N., Experimental Design for the Life Sciences. Oxford University Press, ISBN: 978-0-19-928511-2