In the first part of the lecture, you will learn the basics of freshwater ecology. You will be guided through the complexity of aquatic life, by first looking at the concept of individual genetic pool and fitness in relation to natural selection and at the physical-chemical parameters influencing life in freshwater systems, and then by exploring intra- and inter-population processes as well as typical aquatic communities. We will continue the course by looking at freshwaters as ecosystems, by examining: i) energy flows, efficiency of energy transfer and trophic levels and pyramids, and ii) material and nutrient cycles. Special attention will be dedicated to exploring specificities and main differences of rivers and lakes with respect to variability, morphology, energy and nutrient cycles and main biological processes and interactions. The first part will be concluded with an overview of traditional and innovative indicator-systems for the assessment of the status of freshwater systems. Further, you will be introduced to the concept of integrative management of freshwater quality and we will examine the European Water Framework Directive as an example of this approach.
The second part of the lecture will address anthropogenic pressures on freshwater ecosystems. In particular, we will look, by means of both theoretical background and practical examples, at eutrophication, acidification, temperature alteration and geomorphological modifications. The lecture will be concluded with an overview of the topic of micropollutants emissions, focusing in particular on pharmaceuticals, microplastics, nanomaterials, heavy metals, and organic micropollutants. By means of theoretical background and case studies, you will learn about emission sources, pathways into water bodies, main effects on aquatic ecology and humans as well as main unsolved challenges.
