精东传媒app

Freshwater is Australia's scarcest renewable resource. An understanding of the physical and ecological processes operating in freshwater systems is essential for effective management and use of this valuable resource and for biodiversity conservation. Theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the analysis of the physical, chemical and biological properties of freshwater ecosystems is necessary to understand the complexity and inter-relationships of organisms within these systems and the degradation processes and impacts of human activities as drivers of change in Australia鈥檚 freshwater systems. The course is of value to environmental scientists, engineers, field biologists, natural resource managers, conservation biologists, wildlife managers and professional ecologists.

The unit provides detailed knowledge of the interactions between physical, chemical and biological processes in aquatic ecosystems, and the influence of human activities on these processes. The main theoretical aspects are the characteristics and concepts of lotic and lentic aquatic ecosystems at different temporal and spatial scales; the structure of plant and animal communities; nutrient cycling, trophic structure and aquatic productivity; wetland, riparian and catchment management and ecosystem health. This theory provides a framework for applied freshwater topics: macroinvertebrates as bioindicators; blue-green algae, salinity, eutrophication and other current water management issues; freshwater aquaculture systems, and effluent control.

This course contains a mandatory residential school for both external and on-campus students in the form of an extended (overnight) field trip to UniSQ's Ravensbourne Field Studies Centre, Toowoomba. Accommodation, food and transport costs may be associated with this residential school.

On completion of this course students should be able to:

1. describe the distinctive features of Australian inland waters and have an advanced knowledge of the aquatic communities located in the freshwater ecosystems;
2. explain the interactions between physical and chemical processes in streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands and dams and the social, economic and biophysical ecological drivers within their catchments;
3. analyse and describe the factors affecting the growth of phytoplankton, zooplankton and benthic invertebrate and plant assemblages;
4. critically evaluate the dynamic relationships between organisms and their aquatic environment and the implications of these relationships for resource management;
5. apply appropriate survey and research methods to characterise riverine and wetland ecosystems to effectively analyse and communicate findings in scientific literature relevant to the ecology of freshwater systems and their catchments.