Ecology for Fish Management and Conservation
The course will give you knowledge and training in fish ecology and its applications in aquatic resource management and conservation. It will give you the skills needed for working with national and international water and fisheries management issues. It suits those of you who are interested in fish, marine biology and limnology (freshwater biology) and who want to work in these areas with sustainable management.
The course includes lectures given by researchers specialised on their topics and cover many aspect of fish ecology, as well as aspects of strategies and legislation regarding management and conservation of fish. During the course, you will carry out a project work where you and your course mates adopt a real case in cooperation with actors in fish conservation and management projects. You will also participate in excursions and receive practical training in different types of test-fishing methods and how to efficiently communicate ecological knowledge and information in applied management settings.
Information from the course leader
Welcome to Ecology for Fish Management and Conservation!
We will meet 1 September 10:30 in room "P", located in Ulls Hus. See schedule for more info. Please contact course leader Magnus Huss (magnus.huss@slu.se) if you have any questions about the course. Course literature (scientific papers) for each lecture will be found on the learning platform Canvas: https://student.slu.se/en/studies/educational-systems/canvas-learning-platform/
Course evaluation
The course evaluation is now closed
BI1340-10226 - Course evaluation report
Once the evaluation is closed, the course coordinator and student representative have 1 month to draft their comments. The comments will be published in the evaluation report.
Additional course evaluations for BI1340
Academic year 2023/2024
Ecology for Fish Management and Conservation (BI1340-10417)
2023-08-28 - 2023-10-30
Academic year 2022/2023
Ecology for Fish Management and Conservation (BI1340-10089)
2022-08-29 - 2022-10-31
Academic year 2021/2022
Ecology for Fish Management and Conservation (BI1340-10191)
2021-08-30 - 2021-11-01
Academic year 2019/2020
Ecology for Fish Management and Conservation (BI1340-10078)
2019-09-02 - 2019-10-31
Syllabus and other information
Syllabus
BI1340 Ecology for Fish Management and Conservation, 15.0 Credits
Ekologi för fiskevårdSubjects
Environmental Science Biology Biology Environmental scienceEducation cycle
Master’s levelModules
| Title | Credits | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Single module | 15.0 | 0101 |
Advanced study in the main field
Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirementsMaster’s level (A1N)
Grading scale
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.
Language
EnglishPrior knowledge
Equivalent to 120 credits including 60 credits in Natural Science or Technology. Knowledge corresponding to at least 20 credits in Biology, including 7.5 credits in Ecology. English language proficiency demonstrated as English 6 (Swedish secondary school) or equivalent.Objectives
The course aims at training students in fish ecology and its applications in aquatic resource management and conservation of fish populations in freshwater, coastal and marine environments. This course gives students skills for working with national and international water and fisheries management issues.
After completing the course, students should be able to:
Describe essential ecological terms and theory as well as legislation and management goals relevant for fish management and conservation
Identify and apply ecological knowledge to current real-life issues in fish management and conservation
Evaluate fish management and conservation plans or measures from a fish ecological perspective
Summarise and communicate relevant ecological knowledge on aquatic resource management to stakeholders and fish management and conservation organisations
Content
A major part of the course consists of a project work with case studies regarding actual fish management and conservation projects. Students work in groups with representatives of on-going management projects. The students’ task is to formulate the management problem, find and compile ecological knowledge in order to solve management questions, as well as presenting ecological knowledge and proposals for management improvement to stakeholders. Students discuss in seminars the ecological knowledge on fish ecology obtained from scientific literature and how it relates to the identified management problems in the case studies.
In a series of lectures students gain a deeper understanding of essential aspects of fish ecology such as fish migration, fish life cycles, spatial ecology, and population genetics, and broaden their fish management perspectives, which subsequently and where suitable will be implemented in their project work.
The course also encompass current European and national legislation regarding nature and the aquatic environment (for example the Water Framework Directive, Habitat Directive, Marine Directive, Swedish environmental management goals). It also covers fisheries resource aspects (such as commercial and recreational fisheries, the Common Fisheries Policy) that build the frameworks and are the main driving forces for most fish management and conservation activities.
Students will also receive training in efficiently communicating ecological knowledge and information in applied management settings.
Grading form
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.Formats and requirements for examination
Completed and approved oral and written presentation of project work and active participation in mandatory seminars.
Grading is based on written report on a case study (groupwise), compilation of a poster, as well as oral presentation of the case study. Grade 4 and 5 requires additional individual written and oral reporting.
- If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.
- The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.
- If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.
- For the examination of a degree project (independent project), the examiner may also allow the student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Other information
The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.
If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Additional information
Field trips to fish management and conservation projects are included and will be organised as day trips from Ultuna.Responsible department
Department of Aquatic Resources
Further information
Grading criteria
Marking scale: 5: Pass with Distinction, 4: Pass with Credit, 3: Pass, U: Fail
Objective: The course aims at training students in fish ecology and its applications in aquatic resource management and conservation of fish populations in freshwater, coastal and marine environments. This course gives students skills for working with national and international water and fisheries management issues.
Learning outcomes: After completing the course, students should be able to:
1. Describe essential ecological terms and theory as well as legislation and management goals relevant for fish management and conservation
2. Identify and apply ecological knowledge to current real-life issues in fish management and conservation
3. Evaluate fish management and conservation plans or measures from a fish ecological perspective
4. Summarize and communicate relevant ecological knowledge on aquatic resource management to stakeholders and fish management and conservation organizations
|
Learning outcome |
Grade 3 |
Grade 4 |
Grade 5 |
|
1 |
Describe essential ecological terms and theory, as well as legislation and management goals, relevant for fish management and conservation |
…discuss how ecological terms and theory relate to different types of fish management and conservation measures |
(grade 5 not possible for this learning outcome) |
|
2 |
Identify and apply ecological knowledge to real-life issues in fish management and conservation |
…discuss and evaluate the effects of management measures from an ecological perspective |
..use ecological knowledge to evaluate and compare the effects of alternative mangement measures |
|
3 |
Evaluate fish management and conservation plans or measures from a fish ecological perspective |
…evaluate and compare fish management and conservation measures based on their expected ecological effects in an applied case |
…suggest and motivate fish management and conservation measures based on their expected ecological effects in an applied case |
|
4 |
Summarize and communicate, in text, orally and with a poster, ecological knowledge on aquatic resource management to stakeholders and organizations |
(grade 4 not possible for this learning outcome) |
(grade 5 not possible for this learning outcome) |
Requirements for examination:
Module 1. Active participation in seminars and excursions. Active participation includes: -preparation of course literature before seminar -active contribution to discussions and other learning-teaching activities during the seminars -presentation of progress of case study -giving feedback on other case studies
You are expected to attend all exercises and excursions. Exercises you missed shall be replaced by supplementary assignments which will be assessed depending on the character of the exercise and roughly resembles the time and work load of the exercise.
Module 2. Completed and approved oral and written presentation of project work Grading is based on a written report on a case study (groupwise), compilation of a poster, as well as oral presentation of the case study.
The group report on the case study consists of a text of 10 to 12 pages (max 15) that includes a description of the case, the management question(s) and the ecological questions, the approach decided in the group to identify and analyse ecological information, discussion and suggestions for management, literature/reference list. The report shall be written as a scientific report.
The group poster presentation includes a real poster illustrating a relevant ecological issue related to the case study. The poster should be used to inform the general public about an ecological aspect that the case study representatives like to inform about. Poster presentations include a motivation why this specific ecological aspect was selected, what scientific work the students have carried out underlying the information presented, as well as an explanation of which visual clues were used to illustrate the information for a wider public.
Module 3. Individual written assignment
The individual written assignment will be in the form of a take-home exam with essay questions based on the lectures.
Grading:
Module 1. Seminars and supplementary assignments: 3: Pass, U: Fail
Module 2. Case study Report and Poster presentation (group): 3: Pass, U: Fail
Module 3. Individual written assignment: 5: Pass with Distinction, 4: Pass with Credit, 3: Pass, U: Fail
Final grades are based on grades for Module 3, given Grade 3 for both Module 1 and Module 2.