Duration: 14 days
6 ECTS points
Language: English
Contact/application: Prof. Ryszard Gołdyn,  e-mail: rgold@amu.edu.pl
Application deadline: 30 APRIL 2012
Organisers: Prof. Ryszard Gołdyn, Dr Beata Messyasz

Objectives:
 Students will learn how to diagnose inland waters independently (for example a lake or a river) taking into account their biological and physico-chemical parameters. What is more, students will also be able to use the acquired theoretical knowledge in practice (i.e. in nature resources management like restoration, water protection, biomanipulation) and they will learn how to present the results of field research orally and in writing.

Scope of environment evaluation:
 Any alterations in the way the catchment basin is used, for instance in effect of  urbanization,  industrial developments or agricultural intensification, lead to the deterioration of the quality of  surface waters. Monitoring of water quality is thus the basic method of controlling the water environment. In the diagnosis of the condition of water ecosystem the  indices based on physico-chemical and biological parameters (e.g. phytoplankton, periphyton, hydromacrophytes, benthic macroinvertebrates) will be used. In case of eutrophic lakes with permanent domination of cyanobacteria achieving and maintaining the satisfactory quality of waters is often associated with restoration. The evaluation of the water ecosystem affected by restoration will be performed by the students on the example of Lake Durowskie in the middle of the vegetation period. The following problem tasks for students were chosen:

1. The evaluation of the ecological condition of the lake in connection with macrophyte-based indices.
2. Taxonomic composition, the number of and biomass of the  phytoplankton.
3. Diatom index of periphyton.
4. The composition and biomass of benthic macroinvertebrates.
5. Spatial  variability of physico-chemical indices according to the depth and horizontal  changes (temperature, oxygen, the pH level, and electrolytic conductivity). 

Results:
 The results of field and laboratory investigations will allow for an evaluation of the ecological condition of Lake Durowskie, according to the requirements of the Water Framework Directive. By comparing them with the data obtained in 2008 and 2009 it will be possible to evaluate the reaction of the ecosystem to restoration. The results will also be a base for further comparisons and evaluation of changes in the ecosystem which will be carried out  after another year of restoration by the participants of the summer school in 2011.

Course assessment:
 In order to pass the course participants will actively participate in workshop seminars and field investigations. Finally the results of the students' work will be presented in a written report including  conclusions of the five problem tasks. Reports will be prepared in teams of  three students and presented orally during the last summer school seminar.

Bibliography:

1. Ciecierska H. 2008. Macrophyte-based indices of the ecological state of lakes. Dissertations and Monographs 139, Wyd. UWM.
2. Schaumburg, J., Schmedtje, U., Schranz, Ch., Köpf, B., Schneider, S., Stelzer, D., Hofmann, G., 2005. Instruction Protokol for the ecological Assessment of Lakes for Implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive: Macrophytes and Phytobenthos. Bavarian Water Management Agency. München. 1–44.
3. Schiefele, S., Schreiner, C., 1991. The use of diatoms for monitoring nutrient enrichment, acidification and impact of salt in rivers in Germany and Austria. In: Whitton, B.A., Rott, E., Friedrich, G. (red.): Use of Algae for Monitoring Rivers. Institut für Botanik. Universität Innsbruck. Pp. 103–110.
4. Schoenfelder, I., Gelbrecht, J., Schoenfelder, J, Steinberg, C.E.W., 2002. Relationships between littoral diatoms and their chemical environment in northeastern German lakes and rivers. J. Phycol. 38: 66–82.
5. Wetzel R. G. 2001. Limnology. Lake and River Ecosystems. Third Edition. Oxford Academic Press, 767pp.