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This option will provide students with the opportunity to carry out limnological techniques in the field. It will allow them to undertake a range of freshwater sampling techniques, biological monitoring and identification, boat work and group-designed research projects. Students will spend 3-4 days in the field at the SCENE Field Station during which time they will be trained in required limnological research techniques (3 days) and then interpret and present their research findings orally (1 days) and later through a report.

Three-four day residential field course -depends on size of class dictating the logistics to ensure all students have access to different techniques. Three days would be field based, one day would be presentation preparation and delivery.

Entry to Level 3 Geography or Level 3 Earth Science (or relevant MSc programme)

None

GEOG4092 - Limnology -Understanding Lakes

Assessment will take place during the field course. In their groups, students will present a 20-minute seminar to the class on their research projects (50%).

Individually, they will prepare a 5-page report summarising the findings a key component of their choice from their new field skills (50%).

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

■ To introduce students to methods in measuring aquatic physio-chemical properties in two contrasting systems.

■ To allow students to undertake field techniques in lake structure, hydrochemistry, and biology.

■ To provide a practical contextualisation to limnological theory, enabling the generation and undertaking of a practical, field-based approach to understanding lake functioning.

■ To be able to relate this knowledge to lake systems beyond those studied.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Critically discuss various limnological sampling strategies.

■ Critically discuss the practical issues associated with a variety of limnological sampling techniques.

■ Measure and interpret the relationship between water column physical properties and biogeochemical cycles

■ Explain how to Identify and characterise freshwater planktonic organisms, discussing key features and ecosystem function.

■ Analyse freshwater planktonic structure and contextualise in a biogeochemical framework.

■ Plan, conduct, analyse and disseminate limnological research.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.