Biogeochemical cycles and assessment of wetlands

Year
1
Academic year
2019-2020
Code
02010551
Subject Area
Ecology
Language of Instruction
Portuguese
Other Languages of Instruction
English
Mode of Delivery
Face-to-face
Duration
SEMESTRIAL
ECTS Credits
6.0
Type
Elective
Level
2nd Cycle Studies - Mestrado

Recommended Prerequisites

Biostatistics; Ecology; English.

Teaching Methods

Intensive course with 2 weks duration. Lectures: theoretical, theoretical and practical; pratical in the laboratory and Field work.

Learning Outcomes

After attending the course, the sudents will have acquired specific skills regarding the main factors affecting the the nutrient cycling in wetlands. Case studies regarding the nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon cycles will be presented. A special focus will be given to the effect of human activities on the nutrient cycling leading to environmental quality decrease of ecosystems.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Wetlands, importance and function as ecotones; Wetlands as vulnerable ecotones due to direct and indirect anthropogenic pressure; The carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus cycles; Nutrients dynamics and biogeochemical processes; Impact of eutrophication on the water quality and on primary and secondary productivity; DIPSIR environmental model analysis; Environmental quality indicators; case studies in environmental management of wetlands.

Head Lecturer(s)

Miguel Ângelo do Carmo Pardal

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Apresentação oral de relatórios: 20.0%
Project: 25.0%
Synthesis work: 25.0%
Exam: 30.0%

Bibliography

Baptista J, Martinho F, Nyitrai D, Pardal MA, Dolbeth M (2015). Long-term functional changes in an estuarine fish assemblage. Marine Pollution Bulletin 97: 125-134.

 

Cruzeiro C, Pardal MA, Rocha E, Rocha MJ (2015). Occurrence and seasonal loads of pesticides in surface water and suspended particulate matter from a wetland of worldwide interest-the Ria Formosa Lagoon, Portugal. Environment Monitoring and Assessment 187 (11): 539: 33–46

 

Dolbeth M, Cardoso PG, Grilo T, Raffaelli D, Pardal MA (2013). Drivers of estuarine benthic species distribution patterns following a restoration of a seagrass bed: a functional trait analyses. Marine Pollution Bulletin 72:47-54

 

Kristensen E, Neto JM, Lundkvist M, Frederiksen L, Pardal MA, Valdemarsen T, Flindt MR (2013). Influence of benthic macroinvertebrates on the erodability of estuarine cohesive sediments: Density- and biomass-specific responses. Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science 134: 80-87.

Lillebø AI, et al.  (2011) Nutrient cycling in salt marshes: an ecosystem service to reduce eutrophication, In: Eutrophication: Sources, Ecological Effects and Prevention, Carolann D. Webber (ed.) Nova Science Publishers, Inc. NY, USA. Chapter 5, 135-160pp. (ISBN: 978-1-61728-911-8; 204 pp.)

 

Naiman R.J. and Décamps (Editors) (1990). Ecology and management of aquatic-terrestrial ecotones. Man and Biosphere Series, vol 4. Series editor J.NR. Jeffers. Published by UNESCO,Paris,France and The Parthenon Publishing Group,Lancs,UKandNew Jersey,USA.

 

Nunes M, Pato P, Vernisseau A, Marchand P, Le Bizec B, Ramos F, Pardal MA (2014). Distribution of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs in sediment and plants from a contaminated salt marsh (Tejo estuary, Portugal) Environmental Science and Pollution Research 21 (4): 2540-25449.

Odum, E.P (1988) Princípios e conceitos relativos aos ciclos biogeoquímicos. In: Fundamentos de Ecologia, 4ª Edição, Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisboa. Chapter 4, pp. 133-162.

 

Sousa AI, et al. (2010). Productivity and nutrient cycling in salt marshes: contribution to ecosystem health. Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science 87: 640-646.

 

Crespo D, Dolbeth M, Leston S, Sousa R, Pardal MA (2015). Distribution of Corbicula fluminea (Müller, 1774) in the invaded range: a geographic approach with notes on species traits variability. Biological Invasions (17) 7: 2087-2101.

 

Wetzel, R.G. (1983). Limnologia, 2ª Edição, Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisboa.