Wetlands - biodiversity and change (ERASMUS) 1900-ERASMUS-WBC

The lectures (15 hours) present information about following characteristics and processes related to wetland ecosystems.
1. The nature of wetlands, classifications, types and main processes.
2. The importance of wetlands in the natural and human environment.
3. The biodiversity of wetlands as the effect of natural and human processes.
4. The vulnerability of wetlands on internal and external processes with the emphasis on climate change and human activities.
5. Temporal and spatial changes of wetlands as the consequence of local and global environmental changes.
6. Wetland management and protection systems.
7. Case studies exampling the main issues connected with the wetland functions, importance and human influences.

Main fields of studies for MISMaP

geography

Type of course

elective courses

Mode

Classroom

Prerequisites (description)

The course is directed to students with an interest in natural and human environment interactions with the emphasis on wetlands ecosystems. English is a prerequisite for students participating in the course.

Course coordinators

Dariusz Woronko

Learning outcomes

The student knows and understands the following:
1. The basic concept of wetlands and their characteristics.
2. The importance of wetlands in the natural and human environment.
3. The relations between natural and human processes according to wetland ecosystems.
4. The wetland management, conservation and protection problems.
5. The place of wetlands within the changing world.

Assessment criteria

Participation in the lectures and/or an essay on a topic chosen by the student, and connected to the course content.

Bibliography

Books:
Haslam S.M. 2003. Understanding Wetlands: Fen, Bog and Marsh. Taylor & Francis, London.
Keddy P.A. 2010. Wetland Ecology: Principles and Conservation. Cambridge University Press, New York.
Middleton B.A. (Ed.). 2012. Global Change and the Function and Distribution of Wetlands. Springer Science & Business Media, New York.
Mitsch W.J, Gosselink J.G. 2015. Wetlands, fifth edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken.

Websites:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/index_en.htm
http://www.habitat.noaa.gov/pdf/pub_wetlands_restore_guide.pdf
http://www.ipcc.ch/
http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/
https://climate.nasa.gov/
https://europe.wetlands.org/
https://www.eea.europa.eu/
https://www.ramsar.org/
https://www.wetlands.org/

Additional information

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 1900-ERASMUS-WBC in USOSweb