Learning outcome

After completing the course, the students should have the following qualification regarding knowledge, skill and general competence:

• Knowledge on immigration history, fish biology and ecological conditions for indigenous and introduced fresh water fish species in Norway, tools and methods for quantitative and qualitative analyses of fish stocks. Central environmental impacts of water acidification, regulation of the watercourse, agriculture activity, aquaculture are central topics, as well as comprehensive understanding of macro-chemical variations in freshwater, and the subsequent implication on various fish species. Relevant international agreements and environmental effects of these agreements are also central, as well as the EU-Water Frame Directive, where both chemical and biological status are central criteria.
• Skill to assess various natural and anthropogenic sources to various chemical compounds in freshwater in order to link/assess various physical and chemical impacts to various physical chemical conditions in freshwater, characterization of pollution levels, and environmental effects of these conditions on fresh water fish stocks. This knowledge will also be used for quality assessment of chemical analytical data in freshwater, based on charge balance and specific electrolytic conductivity.
• General competence on other relevant environmental problems than what directly incorporated in the required reading. They should also be able to plan and implement tasks and projects alone or in groups. Furthermore, they should be able to impart comprehensive independent work and master central technical terms, as well as ethical problems within the special field.

Course Description

The course covers immigration history of indigenous and introduced species of freshwater fish in Norway, determination of species, fish physiology, fish biology and ecological demands. Furthermore the course contains analysis of fish stocks by use of various parameters/tools for quantitative and qualitative characterization, as well as effects of various environmental impacts and pollutants. The course also focuses on water chemical demands for fish species, with critical load as a central term. This demands essential water chemical insight in order to transfer classical analytical data into various critical loads terms, as acid neutralizing capacity and various species of heavy metals.

Water management plans, including water course plans, working plans, water course restoring and protecting plans, as well as plans for multiple uses of water courses, and adaptation to the EU water frame directive, are also central course topics.

The students should also carry out a group exercise based on chemical analytical laboratory data from different lakes, where they estimate charge balance, specific electrolytic conductivity, acid neutralizing capacity, as well as determine possible sources to the various chemicals in the water and critical loads for fresh water fish. The exercise is in writing and should also be presented in plenum.

The field work focuses on major environmental threats to fresh water fish and subsequent mitigating measures.

Assessment Methods

The field work is obligatory and the water chemical interpretation report is evaluated passed/not passed. The final examination in writing (4 hours) counts for 100% of the final grade. All assessed elements of the course must be passed to pass the course

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean