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701-0426-00L 3 Credits BSC , MSC D-USYS

Modelling Aquatic Ecosystems

Lecturers & Examiners: PD Dr. Nele Ina Schuwirth
VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-06-03 00:14:54

Abstract

Knowledge about processes in aquatic ecosystems will be compiled to mathematical models of such systems. This integration of knowledge stimulates understanding across disciplines and makes it possible to evaluate hypotheses. The participants will be confronted with ecosystem models of increasing complexity und apply them practically based on an implementation in R.

Objective

Students are able to - describe the most important biological, biochemical, chemical and physical processes in aquatic ecosystems in the form of mathematical models; - recognise and explain the interaction of processes in aquatic ecosystems and estimate the resulting behaviour of the entire system; - mathematically describe important sources of stochasticity and uncertainty in model predictions and quantify their influence on model results; - formulate models of aquatic ecosystems, implement them in a programming environment and use them to address problems in practice.

Content

Basic concepts: Principles of modelling environmental systems, formulation of mass balance equations, formulation of transformation processes. Formulation of ecosystems processes: Physical processes (transport and mixing, sedimentation, gas exchange, detachment and resuspension), chemical processes (chemical equilibria, sorption), biological processes (primary production, respiration, death, consumption, mineralization, nitrification, hydrolysis, bacterial growth, colonization). Consideration of Stochasticity and Uncertainty Sources, description, and propagation of stochasticity and uncertainty Didactic models of aquatic ecosystems: Lake phytoplankton model, lake phyto- and zooplankton model, two box oxygen and phosphorus lake model, model of biogeochemical cycles in a lake, oxygen and nutrient household model of a river, benthic population model of a river. Research models of aquatic ecosystems: Research lake models, research river models. Exercises implementing and practicing the application of the didactic models using libraries of the program package for statistical computing and graphics R ( http://www.r-project.org ).

Resources

Lecture Notes

Manuscript in EnglishLink

Learning Materials (Links)

General Information

Language
English
Levels
BSC , MSC
Frequency
Yearly recurring

Examination

Type
end-of-semester examination
Mode
oral 30 minutes
“During the semester, the students will develop their own model. Submitting this model is mandatory to participate in the oral exam. The assignments will be evaluated with pass/fail and discussed during the oral exam. Deadline for submitting the computer code is 07.05.2026, deadline for submitting the full assignment (max. 3 pages text plus figures) is 22.05.2026.”

Registration & Places

Max Places
24

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
lecture with exercise Modelling Aquatic Ecosystems
  • Wed 10:15-12:00 (LFW B 2)
2 h weekly

Offered In