2024
Aquaculture and Environmental Sustainability
Name: Aquaculture and Environmental Sustainability
Code: BIO14638M
6 ECTS
Duration: 15 weeks/162 hours
Scientific Area:
Biological Sciences
Teaching languages: Portuguese
Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese
Regime de Frequência: Presencial
Presentation
Functioning and interactions of aquatic freshwater, estuarine and coastal ecosystems, with identification of environmental impacts resulting from aquaculture production. Analysis of spatial and temporal patterns and biogeochemical dynamics. Legal tools for the management of aquatic ecosystems
Sustainable Development Goals
Learning Goals
Goal: To relate freshwater, estuarine and coastal ecosystem functioning and interactions with environmental impacts of aquaculture production.
Objectives:
- To understand the role of abiotic and biotic factors on the structure, functioning and trophic interactions of aquatic ecosystems.
- To analyze the spatial and temporal variation patterns of aquatic communities
- To relate water and sediment nutrients dynamic with communities, understand related eutrophication processes and identify its effects on different aquatic ecosystems
- To understand different ecological indicators and to discuss their capacity to assess the Good environmental Status in aquatic ecosystems.
- To analyze the Water Framework Directive-WFD", Marine Strategy Framework Directive-MSFD) and interaction with other policies, based on management tool perspective to assess the different impacts of aquaculture production in aquatic ecosystems.
Objectives:
- To understand the role of abiotic and biotic factors on the structure, functioning and trophic interactions of aquatic ecosystems.
- To analyze the spatial and temporal variation patterns of aquatic communities
- To relate water and sediment nutrients dynamic with communities, understand related eutrophication processes and identify its effects on different aquatic ecosystems
- To understand different ecological indicators and to discuss their capacity to assess the Good environmental Status in aquatic ecosystems.
- To analyze the Water Framework Directive-WFD", Marine Strategy Framework Directive-MSFD) and interaction with other policies, based on management tool perspective to assess the different impacts of aquaculture production in aquatic ecosystems.
Contents
1. Abiotic and biotic estuarine processes in aquatic ecosystems: Salinity gradient, sediment dynamics, salt marshes and seagrass beds.
2. Primary production, detritus, primary consumers and food webs.
3.Different dimensions of fluvial connectivity and its importance for aquatic ecosystems.
4. Spatial and temporal distribution of aquatic communities.
5.Nutrients dynamics: i) Nitrogen, Carbon and Phosphorus cycles; ii) Sediment nutrient flux, eutrophication process, and related impacts in aquatic ecosystems.
6. Ecological indicators to assess the Good Environmental Status in aquatic ecosystems.
7. Environment impacts of aquaculture production in aquatic ecosystems (e.g., habitat changes; nutrient enrichment; use of artificial chemicals, antibiotics and hormones; introduction of non-indigenous species).
8. WFD, MSFD and other policies: Methodologies and indicators for the management and protection of aquatic ecosystems.
2. Primary production, detritus, primary consumers and food webs.
3.Different dimensions of fluvial connectivity and its importance for aquatic ecosystems.
4. Spatial and temporal distribution of aquatic communities.
5.Nutrients dynamics: i) Nitrogen, Carbon and Phosphorus cycles; ii) Sediment nutrient flux, eutrophication process, and related impacts in aquatic ecosystems.
6. Ecological indicators to assess the Good Environmental Status in aquatic ecosystems.
7. Environment impacts of aquaculture production in aquatic ecosystems (e.g., habitat changes; nutrient enrichment; use of artificial chemicals, antibiotics and hormones; introduction of non-indigenous species).
8. WFD, MSFD and other policies: Methodologies and indicators for the management and protection of aquatic ecosystems.
Teaching Methods
The learning is based in active participation of the students. The contact period includes the study of processes and impacts in aquatic ecosystems, and the presentation of several case studies, which could be presented by experts. The practical classes will be concentrated on the development of projects. The environmental European Directives will be explored focusing on the descriptors to assess the Good Environmental Status. The field work will include the visit to aquaculture infrastructures and the analyses of their performance from the environmental sustainability standpoint. Autonomous study will be supported by Moodle Platform.
Assessment
Evaluation methods will include the continuous observation of students work and the development, presentation of specific projects (individual and/or in group). The oral presentation is 30% of the evaluation and 70% is the manuscript report. The students could also have an individual evaluation during the examination period, also 100%.
Teaching Staff
Certificações
