3.9. Straskrabova

Keynote Presentations from the 1st ALTER-Net Summer School, Peyresq 27 August - 8 September 2006

Syllabus

• Spatial and organismal structure of aquatic ecosystems – main features different from terrestrial ones, types of aquatic ecosystems.
• Production processes, energy budget, turnover of nutrients and organic matter in relation to surrounding ecosystems (terrestrial ones, catchment).
• Main groups of aquatic organisms, BD problems.
• Basic principles and methodological approaches for the assessment of aquatic ecosystems functions and biodiversity, both at one-ecosystem-scale and at landscape-scale.
• Goods and services of aquatic ecosystems (provisional and for human use); who are the main groups of end users? How is the biodiversity “involved” there?
• Pressures and drivers effecting aquatic BD, main threats (eutrophication, climate effect, land use, alien species).

Note: The lecture will be based on knowledge and material (incl. examples of case studies) valid for temperate zone, however, implications for other climatic zones will be mentioned.

Recommended background literature on this presentation:

• Millenium Ecosystem Assessment (2005) Ecosystems and human well-being: Wetlands and water - Synthesis. World Resources Institute, Washington DC, 68pp. http://www.maweb.org/en/Products.Synthesis.aspx
• Millenium Ecosystem Assessment (2005) Ecosystems and human well-being: Synthesis. Island Press, Washington DC, 137pp. http://www.maweb.org/en/products.aspx