Estuarine Benthic Ecology

Year
0
Academic year
2019-2020
Code
01014638
Subject Area
Biology
Language of Instruction
Portuguese
Mode of Delivery
Face-to-face
Duration
SEMESTRIAL
ECTS Credits
6.0
Type
Elective
Level
1st Cycle Studies

Recommended Prerequisites

Although not mandatory, the previous attendance of Animal diversity, Population and Community Ecology classes is suggested. The course is lectured in Portuguese, so that a good domain of this language is required.

Teaching Methods

The theoretical and practical classes will be taught throughout the semester, being also planned two field trips. Students will acollect the samples during the field sampling campaigns (sediments, water, plankton, benthos, macroalgae and fish).

Learning Outcomes

This course combines knowledge from mathematics, hydrology, physics, chemistry, marine biology and ecology with an holistic view. This course will be fundamental in the scope of the aquatic environmental sciences.

 

In this curricular unit we expect the students to acknowledge and understand:

 

1) the biology, dynamics and ecology as well as estimate the secondary production  of the main macrobenthic populations and communities;

2) the importance of the nutrient cycles on the structuration of the main plant communities and macrobenthic communities;

3) the effects of contaminants (e.g. heavy metals and organic enrichment) on the estuarine benthic communities;

4) sampling techniques, fixation, identification, determination of abundance, biomass and growth rates of macroinvertebrate populations.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1 – INTRODUCTION TO THE ESTUARINE ENVIRONMENT

Tides

The estuarine gradients

2 – MICROFLORA

Microphytobenthos

Biomass and production

Epiphytic microflora

3 – ESTUARINE MACROALGAE

Composition, abundance and distribution

Biomass ans Production

Macroalgae-macrobetnhos dynamics

4 – SEAGRASS BEDS

Distribution and zonation

Biomass and primary production

5 – SALT-MARSHES

Distribution and zonation

Biomass and primary production

6 – MANGROVES

Distribution and zonation

Biomass and primary production

7 – MEIOFAUNA

Abundance and diversity

Interaction meiofauna-macrofauna

8 – BENTHIC MACROFAUNA

Abundance, diversity and distribution

Plant-fauna interactions

9 – NECTON

Diversity and abundance

Estuaries as nursery areas

10 – NUTRIENT CYCLES

Nytrogen cycle

Phosphorus cycle

Interface sedimento-água

USES AND ABUSES: THE HUMAN IMPACT

Organic enrichment and eutrophication

Oil spills

Heavy metals.

Head Lecturer(s)

Miguel Ângelo do Carmo Pardal

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Exam: 50.0%
Laboratory work or Field work: 50.0%

Bibliography

1. Raffaelli DG, Christopher L. J. Frid (2010). Ecosystem ecology- A new synthesis (Ecological Reviews).
2. Gray JS, Elliot M (2009). Ecology of marine sediments-Oxford University Press, USA.
3. Knox GA (2000). The Ecology of seashores. CRC Press, 557p
4. Little C (2000). The biology of soft shores and estuaries. Oxford University Press, 252p.
5. McLusky DS, Elliott M (2004). The estuarine ecosystem (ecology, threats and management). Oxford University Press, 231p.
6. Kennish MJ (1997). Estuarine and marine pollution. CRC Press, 524p.