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ENVB40120

Academic Year 2024/2025

Freshwater Resources Assessment (ENVB40120)

Subject:
Environmental Biology
College:
Science
School:
Biology & Environment Science
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Marcin Penk
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

The aim of this module is to facilitate the development of the theoretical background, policy context and practical skills to carry out water quality assessment in freshwater ecosystems, particularly in relation to human activities. Main focus of the module is on biological assessment, exemplified by the use of freshwater invertebrates as bioindicators, and there is a strong emphasis on developing practical skills.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completing the module, students should be able to:
• Recognise key pressures and their influence on freshwater resources
• Demonstrate familiarity with Water Framework Directive and its implementation
• Apply water and invertebrates survey techniques
• Identify common freshwater invertebrates
• Analyse survey data, including bioindicators of water quality
• Evaluate the survey outcome in the context of existing information

Indicative Module Content:

Fundamentals of limnology
Monitoring approaches, survey programmes, techniques
Invertebrates, Bioindicators
Water Framework Directive and its implementation
Pressures on water quality
Water quality status and trends
Frontiers in freshwater resource assessment
Survey data processing and reporting

Conducting freshwater surveys (fieldwork)
Processing and identifying invertebrate samples (practicals)
Calculating bioindicator metrics (practical)

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

28
Autonomous Student Learning

60
Lectures

12
Practical

18
Field Trip/External Visits

7
Total

125

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
active/task-based learning; peer and group work; lectures; critical writing; lab work; enquiry & problem-based learning

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (In-person): End of trimester exam (in-person, 2 hours) End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Graded No
50
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): Group and individual work Week 5 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No
50
 No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Summer No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback will be provided on the individual continuous assessment components within 20 days of their submission.

• Lecture slides on Brightspace
• Jones, I. D. and Smol, J. P. (2023) Wetzel’s Limnology: Lake and River Ecosystems, 4th ed. Academic Press. (UCD library, online)
• Lecturer will recommend additional reading

Name Role
Ms Elizabeth Conroy Tutor

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Practical Offering 1 Week(s) - 21, 22, 23, 24 Fri 09:00 - 12:00
Spring Field Trip Offering 1 Week(s) - 20 Fri 09:00 - 14:50
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 Tues 13:00 - 14:50
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 21, 23, 24 Wed 12:00 - 13:50
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