Universität Wien
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300020 UE Microscopical course on freshwater algae (2020S)

Microscopical course on freshwater algae in lakes aimed at EC Water Framework Directive

3.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 30 - Biologie
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 30 participants
Language: German

Lecturers

Classes

info meeting:
2. März, 2020 09:00 - 10:00Uhr in Übungsraum 6 /course room 6

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The algae studied in this course are common freshwater species of lakes in Austria. The course gives a brief introduction into the main taxonomic groups of phytoplankton species, the quantitative analysis by Utermöhl technique and the evaluation of community structure according to the EU Water Framework Directive. Key-reference species of each taxonomic algal group will be studied by light-microscopy. Further we will determine the biovolume of phytoplankton of a lake sample from Alte Donau in Vienna (includes phytoplankton sampling at Alte Donau once) aimed at estimating phytoplankton biomass. These quantitative results describing the phytoplankton composition will be used to evaluate the community structure by statistical tools of the Water Framework Directive. Statistical methods for the validation of microscopical counts of algae and cyanobacteria and templates for the data assessment according to the WFD (both in Excel) are carried out step by step during the course. Instructions for the simple construction of counting chambers allowing a quantitative analysis are given.

Assessment and permitted materials

written examination

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

No deep knowledge on algae taxonomy, WFD or statistics in Excel is absolutely necessary, although such knowledge is an advantage.

Examination topics

The main issues of examination material will be in detail discussed during the course

Reading list

Handouts for the course with illustrations of the key species of algal groups, synonym lists due to the current processing of taxonomy of algae and cyanobacteria, as well as other literature on phytoplankton in the OldAlte Donau Wien and methods of the WFD are provided during the course.

Association in the course directory

WZB

Last modified: Th 02.04.2020 09:48