Course: Structure and Function of River Ecosystem

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Course title Structure and Function of River Ecosystem
Course code ZOO/SFRO
Organizational form of instruction Lecture + Exercise
Level of course Master
Year of study not specified
Semester Winter
Number of ECTS credits 4
Language of instruction Czech
Status of course unspecified
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Uvírová Ivona, RNDr. Ph.D.
Course content
Development of the river ecosystems concepts. Holistic approach to study freshwater ecosystems. Evolving perspective on running water , the history of research and their classification. The consequences of anthropogenic activities in the context of the modern theory of the functioning of river ecosystems. History of the study of running waters. Classification of running waters. Zone conception ( Fric , 1872, Illies & Botosaneanu 1963). The impact of anthropogenic activities on the river ( Berg 1948) . A holistic view of running waters - 60th to 70th years - energy flow , balance of organic matter of individual sections of streams ( Hynes 1970). The interaction of spatial and temporal perspectives . The interdisciplinary character of the study of running waters - 80th to 90th years. The River Continuum Concept ( Vannoy et al . , 1980) , additional views and criticisms of RCC . Related concepts - Nutrient Spiralling ( Newbold et al . , 1981) , Serial discontinuity (Ward & Stanford 1983) , Stream Hydraulics ( Statzner & Higler 1986) , Patch Dynamics (Townsend , 1989, Pringle et al . 1988) , Flood pulse ( Junk et al . 1989) , four -dimensional nature of film products ecosystems (Ward 1989).The final chapters of the course are devoted to the issue of circulation of substances in running waters. Theoretical lectures are followed on the practical experience gained during the all-day field exercise in the beginning of the course.

Learning activities and teaching methods
Lecture, Dialogic Lecture (Discussion, Dialog, Brainstorming), Demonstration, Laboratory Work
Learning outcomes

Student is able to (after attending the course): - To characterize the major milestones of the river ecosystem study - Demonstrate a basic concept study of flowing water - Apply theoretical knowledge to specific river systems - Evaluate the degree of anthropogenic influence on the specific river system
Prerequisites
basic knowledge of hydrobiology and zoological system of aquatic oragisms

Assessment methods and criteria
Oral exam

Credit - 80% attendance, protocols from field experiment Exam - 5 randomly selected questions in extent of the lectures
Recommended literature
  • ALLAN, J.D. (1995): Stream ecology. Structure and function of running waters. Chapman & Hall, pp 388. HYNES, H.B.N. (1970): The ecology of running waters. Liverpool Univ. Press. NEWBOLD, J.D., ELWOOD, J.W. & O'NEILL, R.V. (1981): Measuring nutrient spiraling in streams. Can. J. Fisch. Aquat. Sci., 38: 860-863. PRINGLE, C.M., NAIMAN, R.J., BRETSCHKO, G., KARR, J.R., OSWOOD, M.W., WEBSTER, J.R., WELCOME, R.L. & WINTERBOURN, M.J. (1988): Patch dynamics in lotic systems: the stream as a mosaic. J.N.Am.Benthol.Soc., 7: 503-504. STATZNER, B. & HIGLER, B. (1985): Questions and comments on the river continuum concept. Can. J. Fisch. Aquat. Sci., 42: 1038-1044. TOWNSEND, C.R. (1989): The patch dynamics concept of stream community ecology. J.N.Am.Benthol.Soc., 8:36-50. VANNOTE, R.L., MINSHALL, G.W., CUMMINS, K.W., SEDELL, J.R. & CUSHING, C.E. (1980): The river continuum concept. Can. J. Fisch. Aquat. Sci., 37: 130-137. WARD, J.V. (1989): The four-dimensional nature of lotic ecosystems. J.N.Am.Bent.Soc., 8: 2-8. WARD, J.V. & STANFORD, J.A. (1983): The serial discontinuity concept of lotic ecosystems. In: Fontaine, T.D. & BARTELL, S.H. (Eds.): Dynamics of lotic ecosystems. Ann Arbor Sci. Publ., Ann Arbor, 29-42. .
  • Hurford, C., Schneider, M., Cowx, I. (eds.) (2010). Conservation monitoring in freshwater habitats: pracrical guide and case studies. Springer, Dordrecht, 415 pp..
  • Petts, G., Calow, P. (eds.) (1996). River biota: diversity and dynamics. Blackwell science, Oxford, 257 pp..


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester