Estuarine Benthic Ecology
0
2024-2025
01014638
Biology
Portuguese
Face-to-face
SEMESTRIAL
6.0
Elective
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)
NoSyllabus
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
Laboratory work or Field work: 50.0%
Exam: 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.