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EK5307: CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT (2024-2025)

Last modified: 23 Jul 2024 11:08


Course Overview

Field visits to examine river systems and forested catchments provide context and opportunities to discuss a diverse set of environmental management problems with professionals working in the field.

Practical sessions provide structured activities focused on the identification of freshwater invertebrates and applications of GIS approaches for analysing data to support catchment management planning. You apply theoretical and practical knowledge to a case study, demonstrating your capacity to evaluate site specific data and to interpret relevant legislation and regulation. Working individually and with a group you will write and present a management plan for a location of your choosing.

Course Details

Study Type Postgraduate Level 5
Term First Term Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Vasilis Louca

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • One of Any Postgraduate Programme (Studied) or BI4015 Grant Proposal (Passed) or BI4515 Grant Proposal - Semester 2 (Passed)
  • One of Master Of Science In Ecology & Conservation or Master Of Science In Sustainable Water Management or Master Of Science In Environmental Management or MSc Environmental Science or MSci Biological Sciences

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

Catchment management aims to provide a framework for identifying and analysing the major environmental, social, economic, cultural and land-use changes impacting catchment and whole ecosystem areas. It will also examine relevant national and international legislation. This course will also use a series of case studies to highlight the specific concepts and applications and students will be exposed to a number of ecosystem management activities in practice across the whole of N-E Scotland. Topics covered in the course will include: physical and chemical characteristics of freshwater and river systems; the role of forests and forest management in soil conservation and catchment management; hydrological models and their applications; ecosystem management; legislation relating to catchment and ecosystem conservation and management; and, management applications: afforestation, constructed wetlands and dam removal.
Teaching includes group lectures, interactive online exercises, computer practicals,group discussions, field trips and directed self-study.

By the end of the course students should be able to:

  • Understand in-depth fundamental principles in freshwater ecology
  • Interpret data from river catchments and identify potential problems
  • Apply knowledge acquired to solve relevant, complex environmental problems

Taught topics covered include:
(note that these may vary slightly between years)

Fundamental concepts in freshwater ecology, Rivers, Lakes, Seasonal wetlands
Ecological processes: River continuum, Flood pulse concept, Succession
Forest management in river catchments, soil management
Human interactions and impacts
Conservation and restoration

 


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Practical problem sets/quiz

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 25
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Management plan

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 75
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
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Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
FactualRememberILO’s for this course are available in the course guide.

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