NORDNATUR intensive course:
Aquatic ecology
August 6th – 25th, 2012
6 ECTS credits
Content
This is an intensive course and will take place in two countries, Finland and Iceland, in late
summer. A short introduction to the marine ecosystems, the major commercial species and the
management and monitoring of aquatic resources in each country will be given. The basis for
sustainable use of aquatic resources in the Nordic countries will be discussed. The emphasis
will be on teaching the students different basic methods for monitoring aquatic ecosystems in
the field.
August 6th-15th: In Iceland, the topics are the North Atlantic marine ecosystem, ecological
monitoring methods, commercial fisheries, and the special ecosystems in the area. The
students will participate in handline fishing for tagging, and sampling various marine
organisms. Samples will be analyzed in the laboratory at the university. We will visit fish
processing plants, trawlers and aquaculture facilities. Excursions will also be made to to
Húsavík for whale watching and to visit the Great fishing day in Dalvík. Lectures are given on
various aspects on the North Atlantic marine environment throughout the program. One
weekend is for free time but students will be assisted with sightseeing tours, for example to
the geothermally active Mývatn lake area.
August 16th-25th: In Finland, topics are the Baltic Sea and freshwater ecosystems and their
environmental state, ecological monitoring methods, animal species in brackish and fresh
water. Monitoring methods of rivers will also be studied in this course (e.g. benthic fauna,
water quality, fish populations). A three day excursion will be made to Archipelago Sea
research station. Lectures are given within the topics and students learn monitoring
methodology and sampling in practise. Students analyze samples and the collected data and
present the results in groups.
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to
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Use basic scientific aquatic sampling gear and analyse, synthesise and interpret the
data collected.
Recognize the economically most important aquatic organism in the environments
under consideration.
Discuss efficiently the effects harvesting, other utilization and pollution has on the
aquatic environments under consideration.
Contrast and explain the different problems facing aquatic resources in the aquatic
environments under consideration
Important for students at the University of Akureyri
Students in fisheries sciences at the University of Akureyri can attend this course instead of
marine biology (SJL1103).
Description
This is an intensive course and will take place in two countries, Finland and Iceland, in late
summer. A short introduction to the marine ecosystems, the major commercial species and the
management and monitoring of aquatic resources in each country will be given. The basis for
sustainable use of aquatic resources in the Nordic countries will be discussed. The emphasis
will be on teaching the students different basic methods for monitoring aquatic ecosystems in
the field.
Evaluation
Grading from 1,0 to 10,0 at 0,5 intervals, minimum of 5,0 to pass, according to the Icelandic
grading system. Evaluation is based on the presentations (20% Finland and 20% Iceland) and
final report (60%).
Administration
This course is part of the fall semester at the University of Akureyri and grades will be given
at the end of the term in December. Students will receive transcript of records. Special
arrangements can be made for students at universities that have different semester structure.
Sending NORDNATUR-partners are approving the course as part of the students' education
program.
Costs
Course is covering transportation during the course activities, lodging and educational
material. Students have to cover the travelling expenses to Akureyri where the course starts
and from Turku where the course ends as well as for food and entrance fees for museums
related to the course study and for whale watching trip. Students will be helped with booking
flights if needed. Accommodation will be simple, and you will have to bring your sleeping
bag. Students are recommended to have own laptops during the course.
Application and contacts
Application deadline is on April 9th 2012. Selection of students will be based on quotas:
University of Akureyri and Turku University of Applied Sciences will have 4 students each
and all other Nordnatur partners total of 7. Totally 15 students will be able to attend this
course.
Applications should be sent by mail to Arto Huhta, Turku University of Applied Sciences
arto.huhta@turkuamk.fi or Hreidar Thor Valtysson, University of Akureyri. hreidar@unak.is.
Use the application form at the end of this document.
Selection criteria of students:
- Study years, 2nd & 3rd year students in environmental sciences or related study programmes
- Progress in studies
For more information, feel free to contact:
Bjarni Eiriksson, University of Akureyri. bjarnie@unak.is
Olli Loisa, Turku University of Applied Sciences. olli.loisa@turkuamk.fi
Teaching material
Web based
Schedule (draft)
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6th August Monday (Akureyri): Students arrive
7th August Tuesday (Akureyri): Welcome address, introduction, lectures (The aquatic
environment)
8th August Wednesday (Ytri Vík): Lectures, field work (oceanography, fish tagging)
9th August Thursday (Ytri Vík): Lectures, field work (plankton and benthos, fish
tagging
10th August Friday (Ytri Vík): Lectures, field work (fish tagging, mussel farming)
11th August Saturday (Ytri Vík): The great fishing day in Dalvík
12th August Sunday (Ytri Vík): Day off, sightseeing Lake Mývatn etc
13th August Monday (Ytri Vík): Lectures, Húsavík whale research
14th August Tuesday (Ytri Vík): Leave Akureyri, travel through the highlands
15th August Wednesday (Keflavík): Travel Iceland -> Finland
16th August Thursday: (Parainen)Lectures, excursion and boat trip Archipelago Sea
starts
17th August Friday: (Seili Research station) Lectures, field work (Baltic Sea
ecosystem)
18th August Saturday: (Seili Research station) Field work (water, fish and benthic
sampling)
19th August Sunday: (Parainen) Day off, Turku sightseeing possibility
20th August Monday:(Parainen) Lectures, field work (limnology, environmental
monitoring)
21th August Tuesday:(Parainen)Lectures, field work (commercial fisheries,
electrofishing)
22th August Wednesday:(Parainen)Lectures, laboratory work on samples collected
23th August Thursday:(Parainen) Laboratory work and preparation of presentations
and reports
24th August Friday:(Parainen) Group presentations, final dinner and sauna
25th August Saturday:(Parainen) Home
Application for NORDNATUR short course:
Aquatic ecology. 6 ECTS credits. August 6-25, 2012
Application deadline April 9th, 2012.
Copy/mail to:
Arto Huhta arto.huhta@turkuamk.fi or
Hreidar Thor Valtysson hreidar@unak.is
Date:
STUDENT INFORMATION
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REMARKS, special needs