202332 Spezialmodul "Applied Stream Ecology" (Pr+Ü) (SoSe 2024)

Inland waters like lakes or streams play a crucial role in water and material cycles, represent important habitats for numerous organisms and influence adjacent terrestrial habitats. However, due to anthropogenic influences, the habitat structure and water quality, especially of flowing waters, are increasingly deteriorating. The Water Framework Directive (WasserRahmen RichtLinie) was started to counteract this process across Europe. Since then, the assessment of aquatic habitats based on certain parameters has been an important task in limnology (the ecology of inland waters), which is primarily implemented by environmental and planning offices. As part of this special module, we want to examine and compare the ecological status of various stream sections in Bielefeld using the Perlodes method. These include the following focus areas:

• Identification of macrobenthic organisms (e.g., insect larvae, mollusks and crustaceans) to species level. Classic morphological methods, but also genetic methods, should be used for this purpose.
• Classification of stream sections based on morphometry and habitat structure
• Probe measurements to determine pH-value, conductivity, oxygen etc.
• Water analysis in the laboratory to determine nitrate, phosphate, organic material and chlorophyll a

During the course, field sampling of streams, laboratory work, detailed organism identification and evaluations with the ASTERICS evaluation software alternate. The aim is to write a corresponding report for each site examined, which will be submitted to the Bielefeld Environmental Office.

Teilnahmevoraussetzungen, notwendige Vorkenntnisse

Previous knowledge of macrobenthos morphology from the ecology or environmental Aubaumodul is an advantage

Literaturangaben

https://www.gewaesser-bewertung.de/
Lampert, Winfried, and Ulrich Sommer. Limnoökologie. Georg Thieme Verlag, 1999.
Methodisches Handbuch Fließgewässerbewertung - https://www.gewaesser-bewertung.de/media/meier_handbuch_mzb_2006.pdf