Aquatic Ecosystems Management

After successfully completing this specialization, graduates will be able to:

• Demonstrate and apply and understanding of the physical, chemical and biological structure and associated processes of inland aquatic ecosystems;
• Analyze the physiology, ecology and management of aquatic organisms and marine ecosystems;
• Analyze critically the social dynamics of the utilization of aquatic resources, and the conservational and restoration of aquatic ecosystems;
• Design sampling strategies for cost-effective effective monitoring of aquatic ecosystems, and to support clearly stated policy objectives;
• Understand the relationship between pressures from catchment land use, invasive species and fisheries exploitation, and the ecology of lakes, rivers and wetlands;
• Integrate potentially conflicting stakeholder objectives for the sustainable use of lakes, rivers and wetlands including the role of the expert and reflect upon cross disciplinary views on aquatic ecosystem and aquatic production issues;
• Design a research plan in which the problem definition, hypothesis, research objectives and research questions are described in relation or relevant literature;
• Apply appropriate research methods and techniques, including gathering new information and integrating this in existing theories in order to test the scientific hypothesis by gathering new information and by integrating this in existing theories;
• Co-operate in an interdisciplinary and international team to perform project-based work;
• Communicate clearly (verbally and in writing) about the results of project and research work with specialists and non-specialists considering the nature of the target group;
• Reflect upon personal knowledge, skills, attitudes and functioning, both individually discussions with others and design and plan their own study path.

Graduates will have:

Knowledge and Theory

Understand how hydrology, morphology and aquatic organisms relate to biochemical processes and ecological functions of inland aquatic ecosystems;
Summarize provisioning and regulating ecosystem services provided by inland surface waters and wetlands;
Evaluate how catchment land use, climate variability, invasive species and fisheries exploitation might impact on the ecology of lakes, rivers and wetlands;
Understand the relationship between pressures from catchment land use, invasive species and fisheries exploitation, and the ecology of lakes, rivers and wetlands;

Methods, Techniques and Tools

Design sampling strategies for the cost-effective monitoring of aquatic ecosystems, that can support and inform policy objectives;
Conduct laboratory techniques used for basic limnological studies. Specifically, students will be able to measure physical-chemical properties, chlorophyll a concentration in seston and periphyton; measure and calculate primary production and community respiration, measure nutrient concentration and turbidity, calculate and measure ash free dry mass, and perform zooplankton counts.

Analysis, Synthesis and Integration

• Evaluate anthropogenic impacts on rivers, lakes and rivers;
• Think critically in evaluation of results, information derived from the literature and other sources, and for problem-solving of complex issues related to aquatic ecosystems;
• Integrate potentially conflicting stakeholder objectives for the sustainable use of lakes, rivers and wetlands.

Research

• Conduct independent research, including formulation of hypotheses, selection and application of research methodologies, and the formulation of conclusions and recommendations;
• Effectively plan, organize and conduct a research project that has clear aims and objectives;
• Write a thesis and reports, and present seminars to a professional standard;

General Academic Skills

• Possess the learning skills to acquire continual knowledge in an independent manner;
• Communicate effectively in oral and written presentations to technical and non-technical audiences;
• Collate stakeholder views and integrate potentially conflicting objectives for the efficient and sustainable use of lakes, rivers and wetlands using concepts of an environmental management system, including management objectives for realistic action plans;
• Work effectively in an interdisciplinary team; and
• Provide effective, rational and evidence-based arguments, and be able to present these to a variety of audiences.

Admission Requirement

• Applicants must have BSc degree in any of the following: fisheries, Biology, Animal Sciences or other related areas from a recognized university,
• Applicants will be required to take and successfully pass an entrance examination,
• Applicants must meet the general admission policies of the University.