Biological Water Quality

Code:

BIOL4115

Acronym:

BIOL4115

Level:

400

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Biology

Instance: 2024/2025 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Biology
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Biological Aquatic Resources

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
M:BGQ	1	Plano de Estudos do M:BGQA_2013-2014	1	-	6	42	162
M:RBA	5	Study plan since academic year 2024/2025	1	-	6	42	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

The objectives of this course are.
Characterization of different freshwater ecosystems. Evaluation of water quality in all its aspects biomanipulation Eutrophication of ecosystems and their consequences on the quality of water.

Get competences for learning the techniques of assessment of water quality applying them in the future in various areas of education, research and others.

Learning outcomes and competences

The program of the course introduces the concepts, ideas and most important lines of thought related to the study of aquatic ecosystems to a more careful interpretation, effective and timely Biological Quality of Water. It is intended that there is always a solid link between the theoretical and practical. Therefore, some of the themes developed in the lectures will then be tested and proven in practical classes, using their methodologies. Didactic reasons, the theoretical program will be structured in several chapters, whose approach assumes knowledge already acquired in courses of a general nature, namely, Ecology, Aquatic Ecology and Biostatistics
Type of evaluation: Evaluation without Final Exam, submission of one article and work on a topic.
Terms of frequency: Frequency of the classes, in the terms of the general legislation and regulations applicable
Formula Evaluation: 20% Article
80% written work

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

The syllabus of the curricular unit Biological Water Quality iwas based on
the objectives and on the competences to be acquired by the students and is similar to the syllabus normally taught in equivalent courses in other Portuguese and European Universities.

To provide students with specific competences, there is a direct
correspondence between the contents taught in each topic and the competences to be acquired.

Program

1 - Characterization of freshwater ecosystems 2 - Phenomena of disturbance in ecosystems 3 - Eutrophication and self-purification of aquatic 4 - Effects of organic pollution in lentic ecosystems and semi-lentic 5 - Bioaccumulation 6 - Biological evaluation of water 7 - Bodies bio-indicators 8 - Indices based on the tolerance of some taxa 9 - Indices of diversity 10 - 10. Biomarkers, 11. Quality Management
Practical program: Development of practical work on the biological quality of water

Mandatory literature

Anushree Malik; Environmental challenge vis a vis opportunity: The case of water hyacinth
D. W. Schindler; Eutrophication and Recovery in Experimental Lakes: Implications for Lake Management
J. Thad Scotta,* and Mark J. McCarthyb,c; Nitrogen fixation may not balance the nitrogen pool in lakes over timescales relevant to
Margalef, Ramon; Limnologia
Vitor Vasconcelos; Eutrophication, toxic cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins:2006
R. Pereira*†, A. M. V. M. Soares†‡, R. Ribeiro‡ and F. Gonc¸ alves†; Assessing the trophic state of Linhos lake: a first step towards ecological rehabilitation, 2002
Premazi, G., Cardoso, A.C., Rodari, E., Austoni, M., Chiaudani, G., 2005.; Hypolimnetic withdrawl coupled with oxygenation as lake restoration measures: the successful case of Lake Varese (Italy)
Wauer, G., Teien, H.-C., 2010.; Risk of acute toxicity for fish during aluminum application to hardwater lakes. Science of the Total Environment 408:4020-4025.
ALBA-TERCEDOR, J. & A. SANCHÉZ-ORTEGA. 1988; Un método rápido y simple para evaluar la calidad biológica de las aguas corrientes basada en el de Hellawell (1978). Limnetica, 4: 51-56.
ALBA-TERCEDOR, J.; PRAT, N. 1992; Spanish experience in the use of macroinvertebrates as biological pollution indicators”, in River Water Quality. Ecological Assessment and Control, editado por P.J. Newman, M.A. Piavaux e R.A. Sweeting, Bruxelas (Bélgica), Comissão europeia.
Wetzel, R. G., 1983; Limnologia. 2nd Ed. Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisboa
Malik, A., 2007; Environmental challenge vis a vis opportunity: the case of water hyacinth. Environment International 33:122-138.

Teaching methods and learning activities

The program of the course introduces the concepts, ideas and most important lines of thought related to the study of aquatic ecosystems to a more careful interpretation, effective and timely Biological Quality of Water. It is intended that there is always a solid link between the theoretical and practical. Therefore, some of the themes developed in the lectures will then be tested and proven in practical classes, using their methodologies. Motivation is a decisive factor in any learning process, which is why we strive to increase it by linking the topics addressed, and illustrating, whenever necessary, with case studies and personal experience of the author. Didactic reasons, the theoretical program will be structured in several chapters, whose approach assumes knowledge already acquired in courses of a general nature, namely, Ecology, Aquatic Ecology and Biostatistics

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	30,00
Exame	70,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	30,00
Trabalho de investigação	70,00
Total:	100,00

Eligibility for exams

Revision of a paper and its presentation.
written exam

Calculation formula of final grade

Formula Evaluation: 30% Article
70% written exam

Observations

1. MyThe person in charge of this course is Natividade Vieira