Lecturers: Monica Tolotti, Maria Cristina Bruno, Walter Bertoldi, Guido Zolezzi

Summary: The course provides an insight on the physical, chemical, ecological and biological properties and dynamics of freshwater ecosystem, considering natural conditions (Module 1) and the effects of human stressors (Module 2). Specific case studies of different freshwater ecosystems will provide examples of the possible methodological approaches.

Module 1 (12 hours): Aquatic ecosystem in natural conditions. This module addresses the main variables and processes driving the habitat dynamics in natural freshwater ecosystems.

Skills acquired: ability to describe and interpret aquatic habitats in running waters and lakes, across time and space, including physical, chemical, morphological variables, such as flow, temperature, nutrients, and foodweb descriptors and the effects of vegetation on the above.

Module 2 (12 hours): Aquatic ecosystem under direct and indirect human stressors. This module provides insight on direct (e.g., pollution, water withdrawals, engineering) and indirect (land use and climate change)

Skills acquired: methods to recognize and quantify stressors such as  source and point pollution, hydro-morphological alterations, thermal alterations, extinction and creation of habitats; methods for mitigation /restoration strategies (e-flows, morphological restoration, sediment augmentation).

Course schedule: Attention! the course will not be activated this year

Registration procedure: in order to formally register in the course, please write an e-mail request to phd.aes@unitn.it 

Evaluation procedure: presentation