Ecological Models for Surface Water

Prerequisite Knowledge

Good background on the basics of fluid mechanics, applied hydraulics, ecology and environmental engineering.

Course Units

#	Title	Description	Hours
1	INTRODUCTION	The Water Framework Directive (WFD). Ecological problems and anthropogenic pressures. Biological characteristics of a water body. Basic physicochemical, biological and hydro-morphological quality elements. Principles for the classification of ecological and chemical status of surface water bodies. The main environmental problems in surface and coastal waters: organic pollution and de-oxygenation in rivers, eutrophication in lakes/reservoirs and coastal waters, and hydro-morphological alterations in rivers.	1Χ4=4
2	MAIN TYPES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF ECOLOGICAL MODELS	Ecological models, their main types and their characteristics. Mathematical description of the most important physical, chemical, biological and ecological processes taking place in a surface water body. Formulation, calibration, verification and application of a mathematical model. Pressures and impact analysis. Methods for the assessment of point and non-point pressures.	2Χ4=8
3	MODELLING ORGANIC POLLUTION AND EUTROPHICATION IN RIVERS	Scope of modelling and problem formulation. Classes of water quality in rivers. The processes of organic pollution in rivers and their equations. Team project 1: Formulation of a simple model for organic pollution and eutrophication in a river.	3Χ4=12
4	MODELLING EUTROPHICATION IN LAKES/RESERVOIRS AND COASTAL WATERS	Scope of modelling and problem formulation. Types of eutrophication models. Mathematical formulation – application of a eutrophication – dissolved oxygen model. Team project 2: Formulation of a simple model for eutrophication in lakes/reservoirs and coastal waters.	3Χ4=12
5	HYDRAULIC-HABITAT MODELING IN RIVERS	Scope of modelling and problem formulation. Problem formulation. Description of the basic features of the hydraulic-habitat models. Team project 3: Formulation of a simple hydraulic-habitat model.	3Χ4=12
6	PRESENTATION OF CASE STUDIES.	Presentation of the team projects by the students and discussions.	1Χ4=4

Learning Objectives

By the completion of the course, the students will be able to: 1. learn the basic types and characteristics of ecological models and the recent research findings in this field, 2. combine the team work with the theoretical knowledge, 3. understand how ecological models can be employed as valuable tools to facilitate water resources management, 4. develop and apply simple ecological models, 5. evaluate through the use of ecological models the environmental impacts of the disposal of pollutants to the water environment, and 6. participate in integrated water resources projects and learn through conducting their ‘own research’ and deriving ‘their own findings’.

Teaching Methods

Teaching methods	Course teaching in class. Solving simple problems in class. Discussion of case studies in class. Research-Oriented Teaching (ROT) is combined with Problem Based Learning (PBL) in the part 5 “Hydraulic-Habitat Modeling (HHM)”.
Teaching media	Blackboard use. PowerPoint presentations. Spreadsheet calculations and calculating codes.
Computer and software use	Use of spreadsheets and in-house ecological models
Problems - Applications	Yes
Assignments (projects, reports)	Technical team projects (groups of 2-4 students) enabling the development/application of a) a river water quality model, b) a eutrophication model and c) a hydraulic-habitat model. For each project a technical report is required. A final oral presentation of the projects is foreseen.
Student presentations	Yes

Student Assessment

• Final written exam: 50%
• Assignments (projects, reports): 30%
• Student presentations: 20%

Textbooks - Bibliography

1. Fath, B. and Jorgensen, S. E. (2011). Fundamentals of Ecological Modelling, Volume 23, Fourth Edition: Applications in Environmental Management and Research (Developments in Environmental Modelling), Elsevier; http://www.ebooks-share.net/fundamentals-of-ecological-modelling-volume-23-fourth-edition-applications-in-environmental-management-and-research-developments-in-environmental/.
2. European Commission European Commission (2012). Indicators and Methods for the Ecological Status Assessment: Linkages between Chemical and Biological Quality of Surface Waters, Joint research Centre.
3. Stamou, A. I. (2017). Ecological Modeling of Surface Waters, Technical University of Munich, Munich, 2017.
4. Chapra S.C., Surface Water Quality Modelling, McGraw Hill, 1997.
5. Lecture notes and PowerPoint slides