School: Science

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Freshwater Ecosystems
  • Unit Code

    SCI3113
  • Year

    2017
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    2
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
  • Unit Coordinator

    A/Prof Mark Andrew LUND

Description

This unit examines the nature of freshwater ecosystems, in particular, their physical and biological characteristics. Current management issues and the impact of human activity on these ecosystems are analysed as well as the strategies for assessing impacts and achieving balanced management.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must pass either SCC1123 or SCC1111 AND 2 units from SCI1185, SCM2110.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Apply the principles of effective environmental management plans and their relevant strategies for freshwater systems.
  2. Critically evaluate the characteristics of a range of different freshwater ecosystems.
  3. Define the ecological interactions which maintain inland freshwater ecosystems and the threats to them.
  4. Design and undertake field assessments of water quality, hydrological parameters and biological surveys in flowing and non-flowing freshwater systems.
  5. Identify strategies to minimise adverse impacts of such activities.

Unit Content

  1. Biological characteristics of freshwater systems; biota and ecological interactions in lotic and lentic systems; primary productivity and carbon and nutrient pathways in freshwater ecosystems.
  2. Design and implementation of technically sound sampling programs for water quality and biological surveys in freshwater environments.
  3. Introduction to the physical and chemical features of freshwater ecosystems; classification of freshwater systems; nutrient sources; forms of sediment; water as a geomorphic agent; morphology of drainage basins; stream dynamics, lake systems, estuaries, water-logged soils.
  4. Management of freshwater ecosystems: environmental impacts, management of polluting activities and water resource development; regulatory and legislative frameworks for management.
  5. Threats to freshwater environments; eutrophication, pollutants, physical disturbance and infilling, introduced species; case studies of the threats to freshwater ecosystems.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures, laboratory work, practical workshops, field visits.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentEssay20%
Laboratory WorkLaboratory/field work40%
Examination ^End of semester examination40%

^ Mandatory to Pass


Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

SCI3113|2|1

School: Science

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Freshwater Ecosystems
  • Unit Code

    SCI3113
  • Year

    2017
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    2
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
  • Unit Coordinator

    A/Prof Mark Andrew LUND

Description

This unit examines the nature of freshwater ecosystems, in particular, their physical and biological characteristics. Current management issues and the impact of human activity on these ecosystems are analysed as well as the strategies for assessing impacts and achieving balanced management.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must pass either SCC1123 or SCC1111 AND 2 units from SCI1185, SCM2110.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Apply the principles of effective environmental management plans and their relevant strategies for freshwater systems.
  2. Critically evaluate the characteristics of a range of different freshwater ecosystems.
  3. Define the ecological interactions which maintain inland freshwater ecosystems and the threats to them.
  4. Design and undertake field assessments of water quality, hydrological parameters and biological surveys in flowing and non-flowing freshwater systems.
  5. Identify strategies to minimise adverse impacts of such activities.

Unit Content

  1. Biological characteristics of freshwater systems; biota and ecological interactions in lotic and lentic systems; primary productivity and carbon and nutrient pathways in freshwater ecosystems.
  2. Design and implementation of technically sound sampling programs for water quality and biological surveys in freshwater environments.
  3. Introduction to the physical and chemical features of freshwater ecosystems; classification of freshwater systems; nutrient sources; forms of sediment; water as a geomorphic agent; morphology of drainage basins; stream dynamics, lake systems, estuaries, water-logged soils.
  4. Management of freshwater ecosystems: environmental impacts, management of polluting activities and water resource development; regulatory and legislative frameworks for management.
  5. Threats to freshwater environments; eutrophication, pollutants, physical disturbance and infilling, introduced species; case studies of the threats to freshwater ecosystems.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures, laboratory work, practical workshops, field visits.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentEssay20%
Laboratory WorkLaboratory/field work40%
Examination ^End of semester examination40%

^ Mandatory to Pass


Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

SCI3113|2|2