Msc aquatic ecology by research biological sciences

Structure

If you have any questions about the content or structure, contact the programme director Dr Christophe Eizaguirre

Your taught modules take place in blocks of two weeks of full-time teaching (normally 9am-5pm), followed by weeklong study breaks for independent learning and coursework. This structure allows for an intensive learning experience, giving students the opportunity to immerse themselves in their subject.

• Ecosystems Structure and Functioning: While we have long appreciated the structure of ecosystems, the importance of ecosystem functioning has lagged behind somewhat. This module aims to redress the balance by exploring the use of modern tools which allow us to thoroughly integrate measures of ecological structure and functioning. Aspects of the Metabolic Theory of Ecology, body-size relationships, stable isotope analysis and DNA bar- coding will all be covered in relation to topics such as photosynthetic and chemosynthetic primary production; the impacts of invasive species; aquatic-terrestrial linkages and cross ecosystem boundary subsidies; biogeochemistry and nutrient dynamics; plankton dynamics and organismal physiology in a changing world.
• Quantitative Techniques for Surveying and Monitoring in Ecology: Through a series of lectures, workshops and data analyses classes in the first week, you will learn the theory behind designing and initiating surveys and monitoring campaigns for blue skies science, conservation & for management. In the subsequent week, you will be able to put the theory into practice at a field location such as Lake Windermere and environs, undertaking electric-fishing and hydroacoustic surveys for fish populations, a census for aquatic birds, and camera-trapping for aquatic mammals. Other skills like telemetry will be demonstrated.
• Statistics and Bioinformatics: This module is focussed on teaching data analysis using the statistical programming language R. The module covers the basics of using R; drawing publication-standard graphs with R; experimental design; exploratory data analysis; the fundamentals of statistical testing including t-tests and chi-square tests; ANOVA and Regression; fitting and interpreting general linear models; the basics of bioinformatic analysis in R. The module is taught with a mix of theory and practice, with a typical day including roughly two hours of theory instruction in the morning followed by a practical session in the afternoon, often involving hands-on analysis of real experimental data sets.

In addition to three taught modules, you will conduct a nine month extended project aligned to one of the following active research areas:

• Impacts of invasive species, particularly crayfish or amphipods, on UK waters
• Climate change and sentinel species / ecosystems
• Methane and its role in food webs
• Biogeochemical cycling and up / downwelling in lotic ecosystems
• Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning
• Physiology of aquatic organisms in a changing climate
• Conservation genetics for species management

Find out more about this programme in the Aquatic Ecology student handbook.

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• Jackson MC, Jones T, Milligan M, Sheath D, Taylor J, Ellis A, England J & Grey J 2014 Niche differentiation among invasive crayfish and their impacts on ecosystem structure and functioning Freshwat Biol 59: 1123-1135
• Shelley F, Grey J & Trimmer M 2014 Widespread methanotrophic primary production in lowland chalk rivers Proc Roy Soc B 281: 1783
• Harvey GL, Henshaw AJ, Moorhouse TP, Clifford NJ, Holah H & Grey J 2014 Invasive crayfish as drivers of fine sediment dynamics in rivers: field and laboratory evidence. Earth Surf Proc Land 39: 259-271