| CODE | EMP5031 | ||||||||||||||||
| TITLE | Water Monitoring and Assessment | ||||||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 8 | ||||||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Environmental Management and Planning | ||||||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit focuses on the monitoring and assessment of freshwater and marine, groundwater and surface water bodies. The study-unit will utilise class, case-study, laboratory and field-based learning to equip students with the skills necessary to design an effective monitoring and assessment programme. It will delve into the essential concepts of the water body's hydrological, chemical and biological interactions and natural influences on water quality and their vulnerability to contamination. This study-unit will also examine the various features of monitoring and assessment in the marine environment. This includes an integration of biological, chemical and physical aspects. The study-unit will discuss survey and fieldwork techniques needed to monitor various parameters in the marine environment. The key biological aspects that need to be taken into account for a holistic monitoring programme will be described. Key considerations for the monitoring of pressures including non-indigenous species within protected areas and hotspot (port) areas will be explored. The pathways of introduction of non-indigenous species will be assessed. The study-unit also addresses the monitoring and assessment of the sustainability of exploitation (including fisheries). Study-Unit Aims: - To provide students with the ability to undertake hydrological, chemical and biological characterisation of groundwater and surface water bodies and; - To teach students on the use of this information in order to assess the status of the freshwater resource and be able to design an appropriate monitoring programme; - To familiarise students with survey and fieldwork techniques needed to monitor the biological, chemical and physical aspects of the marine environment in a holistic manner; - To teach students about the monitoring and assessment of key descriptors of the marine environment including biodiversity, non-indigenous species, eutrophication, contaminants and fisheries; - To familiarise students with contemporary-related issues in the monitoring of the marine environment including the emergence of novel techniques of monitoring. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - describe the geological, geomorphological, climatological and anthropogenic factors that influence the quantitative and qualitative status of surface water and groundwater bodies; - appreciate the monitoring requirements of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and other relevant legislation; - describe the main approaches to monitoring water bodies' hydrological, chemical and biological characteristics; - analyse and interpret this data with respect to monitoring requirements; - describe the monitoring and assessment aspects of key descriptors in the marine environment including biodiversity, non-indigenous species, eutrophication, contaminants and fisheries; - articulate key aspects of contemporary-related issues in the monitoring of the marine environment including the emergence of novel techniques of monitoring. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - demonstrate the ability to plan a freshwater sampling campaign, including collecting water samples and performing water quality field measures whilst applying appropriate quality assurance procedures to guarantee the integrity of monitoring data; - design monitoring networks for different types of surface and groundwater bodies in relation to set objectives and be able to evaluate the quality of the data being collected; - report the results of qualitative and quantitative assessment and monitoring programmes using appropriate statistical tools to interpret and present large data sets; - demonstrate research skills including fieldwork and laboratory-work to monitor and assess the marine environment; - identify species that are characteristic of the marine environment and apply biological indicators to assess water quality; - apply the knowledge on monitoring and assessment to the work environment to inform policy. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Readings: - BOYD, C.E., 2015. Water Quality. 2. ed. edn. Cham [u.a.]: Springer. - LI, D. and LIU, S., 2019. Water Quality Monitoring and Management. Academic Press. - Coll, M., C. Piroddi, J. Steenbeek, K. Kaschner, F.B.R. Lasram, J…… E. Voultsiadou. (2010). The biodiversity of the Mediterranean Sea: estimates, patterns, and threats. PLoS One 5, e11842. Available online Supplementary Readings: - ROBINSON, M. and WARD, R.C., 2017. Hydrology : Principles and Processes. London: IWA Publishing. - SHAW, E.M., 2011. Hydrology in practice. Fourth edition.. edn. London; New York : Spon. - STUMM, W. and MORGAN, J.J., 2012. Aquatic Chemistry: Chemical Equilibria and Rates in Natural Waters. New York: New York: Wiley. - Orfanidis, S., Panayotidis, P., & Ugland, K. (2011). Ecological Evaluation Index continuous formula (EEI-c) application: a step forward for functional groups, the formula and reference condition values. Mediterranean marine science, 12(1), 199-232. Available online - Araújo, R., Somma, F., Aigars, J., Axe, P., Bartolo, A.G., De Cauwer, K., ... & Wilkes, R. (2019). Eutrophication in marine waters: harmonization of MSFD methodological standards at EU level. JRC Technical Report. Publications Office of the European Union. Available online - Tsiamis, K., Palialexis, A., Stefanova, K., Gladan, Ž. N., Skejić, S., Despalatović, M., ... & Cardoso, A. C. (2019). Non-indigenous species refined national baseline inventories: A synthesis in the context of the European Union's Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 145, 429-435. Available online |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Fieldwork, Lecture, Practicum & Seminar | ||||||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Angela Bartolo Julian Mamo (Co-ord.) |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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