This PhD course introduces foundational concepts and current challenges in watershed science. The course takes an integrative approach, focusing on hydrological, biogeochemical, and ecological connections among upland, riparian, and aquatic components of forested landscapes.
Topics include: • Catchment hydrology and water balance • Element transport and processing along hillslopes and riparian zones • Controls on material exchange at the land–water interface • Biogeochemical cycling in streams and rivers • The role of wetlands and lakes in catchment biogeochemistry • Interactions between forest management and watershed science in boreal regions
Course themes will be explored through literature discussions supported by short lectures. Field excursions and practical activities in the Krycklan catchment will introduce specific research questions and methodological approaches.
The course includes a 7-day field component, with one day each for arrival and departure.
Main teaching activities include:
Lectures covering key thematic topics in watershed science
Mini-lectures connected to field excursions in upland, riparian, stream, wetland, and lake ecosystems within the Krycklan catchment
A field excursion to the Trollberget Experimental Area
Group discussions based on course literature and field observations
Individual poster presentations of PhD research projects
Two weeks of preparation for assigned readings before the course
The course concludes with the Krycklan Symposium, where students will give short poster pitches summarizing their research.
Location and AccommodationLocation of the Krycklan Catchment
The field course takes place in the Krycklan Catchment Study area near Vindeln.
Students are responsible for traveling to Umeå, from where course organizers will arrange transportation to Vindeln and back.
During the field portion of the course, students will stay in shared cottages.
Course Fee
To cover food and lodging during the field course, a fee of 10,000 SEK (≈ 1,000 EUR) will be charged.
Payment is made directly to the accommodation during the course
Accommodations are standard shared rooms; special rooms are available at your own cost
Program
Thursday, Sept 17 – Fundamentals of Watershed Science
10:00 – Departure from Umeå (SLU / Train Station) to Vindeln 11:30–12:30 – Lunch 12:30–13:00 – Hjalmar Laudon (SLU): Welcome and course introduction 13:00–14:00 – Ryan Sponseller (UmU): History of the watershed approach in ecology 14:00–15:00 – Kevin Bishop (SLU): History of hydrological and biogeochemical research 15:00–16:00 – Ylva Sjöberg (UmU): Landscape water balance 16:00–18:30 – Paper discussion groups 18:30 – Dinner 20:00–22:00 – Social time/introductions
Friday, Sept 18 – Riparian Biogeochemistry and Ecology
~07:00–08:30 – Breakfast 08:30–09:30 – Hjalmar Laudon (SLU): Introduction to Krycklan 09:30–13:00 – Field excursion to Krycklan 13:00–14:00 – Lunch 14:00–15:00 – Kevin Bishop (SLU): Riparian hydrology & biogeochemistry 15:00–16:00 – Lenka Kuglerova (SLU): Riparian ecology & aquatic–terrestrial linkages 16:00–18:30 – Paper discussion groups 18:30 – Dinner 20:00–22:00 – Poster session (Group 1)
Saturday, Sept 19 – Forestry in the Boreal Region and Water Quality
~07:00–08:30 – Breakfast 08:30–09:30 – Johannes Larson / Gustaf Egnell (SLU): Forestry in Sweden and globally 09:30–13:00 – Field excursion to Trollberget 13:00–14:00 – Lunch 14:00–15:00 – Johannes Larson (SLU) 15:00–16:00 – Eliza Hasselquist (SLU): Ditches and stream channelization – managing historic forestry effects on waterways 16:00–18:30 – Paper discussion groups 18:30 – Dinner 20:00–22:00 – Poster session (Group 2)
Sunday, Sept 20 – Wetlands
~07:00–08:30 – Breakfast 08:30–09:30 – Järvi Järveoja (SLU): Wetlands in Sweden and globally 09:30–13:00 – Field excursion to Degerö Stormyr 13:00–14:00 – Lunch 14:00–15:00 – Matthias Peichl (SLU): Biotic and abiotic controls on mire water and energy budgets 15:00–16:00 – Martin Skerlep (SLU): Mires and water quality in a landscape perspective 16:00–18:30 – Paper discussion groups 18:30 – Dinner 20:00–22:00 – Poster session (Group 3)
Monday, Sept 21 – Aquatic Processes
~07:00–08:30 – Breakfast 08:30–09:30 – Ryan Sponseller (UmU): Aquatic ecosystems as integrators of boreal carbon cycling 09:30–13:00 – Field excursion to Stortjärn 13:00–14:00 – Lunch 14:00–15:00 – Maria Myrstener (SLU): Consequences of environmental change on aquatic systems 15:00–16:00 – Gerard Rocher-Ros (SLU): Aquatic processes beyond Krycklan 16:00–18:30 – Paper discussion groups 18:30–21:00 – Dinner and field trip to Isälvsleden
Tuesday, Sept 22 – Scaling and Modelling
~07:00–08:30 – Breakfast 08:30–09:30 – Ishi Buffam (SLU): Scaling environmental processes 09:30–12:00 – Field excursion to downstream Krycklan 12:00–13:00 – Lunch 13:00–14:30 – Chris Soulsby (University of Aberdeen): Fundamentals of hydrological modeling 14:30–16:00 – Anneli Ågren / William Lidberg (SLU): GIS and machine learning 16:00–18:30 – Final full-group discussion 18:30 – Dinner 20:00–22:00 – Free time
Wednesday, Sept 23 – Krycklan Symposium
~07:00–08:30 – Breakfast 08:30 – Departure to Umeå 10:00–18:30 – Krycklan Symposium (students need to present their posters)
