Limnology
- Agricultural Sciences
- 300 level
- 2 credit units
- 156 pages
- 31 units
This course introduces the basic principles of limnology, the study of inland waters. It explores the characteristics of natural and man-made lakes, aquatic chemistry, and major water compartments. The course also examines the hydrological cycle, transport and exchange processes, and lake food chains. Students will learn about thermal stratification, the role of soils, paleolimnology, and the dynamics of littoral and pelagic zones.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 208 hours
- Maths
- Basic
- Content
- Theoretical, case study, problem solving
- Practical work
- No
- Assignments
- Tutor marked assessments
- Final examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of AFM305, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
AFM305 · UNIT 1 PROPERTIES OF NATURAL LAKES
Lakes are depressions surrounded by land and hold standing fresh or saline water all year round. Some lakes are however seasonal.In this unit, you will get to know the classification and characteristics of lakes including lake zonation.
What you should be able to do
- Distinguish between natural and man-made lakes
- Explain the characteristics of freshwater environments
- Discuss the transport and exchange processes in water bodies
- Define thermal stratification and its importance
- Explain the major water compartments and the hydrological cycle
What it prepares you for
- Environmental Scientist
- Fisheries Manager
- Water Quality Analyst
- Environmental Consultant
- Hydrologist
- Environmental Monitoring
- Water Resource Management
- Fisheries
- Agriculture
- Public Health
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 5: Estimation of Algal Population and Measurement of Primary Productivity
Unit 1: Estimation of Algal Population and Measurement of Primary Productivity
The 14C method requires understanding of radioactive decay and specialized equipment for measurement.
- Module 6: Paleolimnology and Sediments
Unit 1: Paleolimnology and Sediments
Requires understanding of sediment dating techniques and interpreting past environmental conditions from sediment composition.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 137 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: Properties of Natural Lakes
Unit 1: Properties of Natural Lakes · 8 hours
Define lakes and their characteristics. Discuss seepage lakes, groundwater drainage, and drained lakes. Explain coastal lagoons and impoundments/reservoirs.
Unit 2: Properties of Man-Made Lakes (Reservoirs) · 7 hours
Define reservoirs and impoundments. Describe impoundments, off-river reservoirs, and inter-basin transfers. Discuss thermal, chemical, biological characteristics and microbiology of reservoirs.
- Week 2Module 1: Properties of Natural Lakes
Unit 3: Aquatic Chemistry · 9 hours
Explain water chemistry and chemical constituents of natural waters. Discuss surface water, alkalinity, acidity, dissolved oxygen, nitrogen, phosphates, phosphorus, sulphur, and organic matter.
- Week 3Module 2: Physicochemical Properties of Freshwater
Unit 1: Physicochemical Properties of Freshwater · 8 hours
State the characteristics of freshwater. Explain latent heat and water density. Discuss acidity and alkalinity of water.
- Week 4Module 2: Physicochemical Properties of Freshwater
Unit 2: Physicochemical Properties of Brackish Water · 7 hours
Define brackish water. Discuss common features of estuaries. Highlight biological features of estuaries.
Unit 3: Physicochemical Properties of Marine (Sea) Water · 8 hours
Enumerate the characteristics of seawater. Discuss the adaptations of living organisms to marine environment.
- Week 5Module 3: Major Water Compartments
Unit 1: Major Water Compartments · 9 hours
Enumerate the attributes of marine ecosystem: oceans. State the attributes of the freshwater ecosystem. Explain the residence time of a reservoir.
- Week 6Module 3: Major Water Compartments
Unit 2: Hydrology and Water Cycle · 8 hours
Discuss the hydrologic or water cycle. Describe the changes in the hydrologic cycle over time. Explain the impacts of human activities on the water cycle.
- Week 7Module 3: Major Water Compartments
Unit 3: Transport and Exchange Processes · 9 hours
Define atmospheric transport. Explain the major transport and exchange processes.
- Week 8Module 4: Ground Water
Unit 1: Ground Water · 8 hours
Highlight the features that distinguish groundwater from surface water bodies. State the characteristics of groundwater bodies. Explain the chemical characteristics of groundwater.
- Week 9Module 4: Ground Water
Unit 1: Ground Water · 7 hours
Describe the reactions caused by anthropogenic effects. Enumerate the biological characteristics of groundwater.
Unit 2: The Flowing Waters: Rivers · 8 hours
State the characteristics of rivers. Discuss the temperature and oxygen of rivers cum transport of materials by rivers. Explain the ecological zonation of rivers.
- Week 10Module 4: Ground Water
Unit 2: The Flowing Waters: Rivers · 9 hours
Differentiate between springs and upper river. Distinguish between middle and lower river.
- Week 11Module 4: Ground Water
Unit 3: Lake Food Chain · 8 hours
Differentiate between aquatic and terrestrial organisms. Classify aquatic organisms depending on the roles they play in the ecosystem. Classify aquatic organisms based on their habitats.
- Week 12Module 5: Estimation of Algal Population and Measurement of Primary Productivity
Unit 1: Estimation of Algal Population and Measurement of Primary Productivity · 7 hours
State the estimation of algal population. Highlight the measurement of primary production. Differentiate between the oxygen and 14C methods.
Unit 2: Thermal Stratification · 8 hours
Define thermal stratification. Discuss the factors affecting lake mixing, transport and exchange of substances.
- Week 13Module 5: Estimation of Algal Population and Measurement of Primary Productivity
Unit 3: The Role of Soils · 9 hours
Enumerate soil characteristics that influence both infiltration or run off. Discuss surface run off and watershed.
Preparing for the exam
- Create concept maps linking Modules 1-3 water properties and cycles
- Practice calculations of alkalinity and hardness from Unit 3 weekly
- Review lake classification types (Unit 1) and their characteristics
- Focus on understanding the drivers of thermal stratification (Module 5)
- Study the different zones of lakes and their ecological dynamics (Module 6)
Questions students ask about this course
What is AFM305 about?
This course introduces the basic principles of limnology, the study of inland waters. It explores the characteristics of natural and man-made lakes, aquatic chemistry, and major water compartments. The course also examines the hydrological cycle, transport and exchange processes, and lake food chains. Students will learn about thermal stratification, the role of soils, paleolimnology, and the dynamics of littoral and pelagic zones.
How many units does AFM305 have?
AFM305, Limnology, has 31 units across 6 modules, over 156 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is AFM305?
AFM305 carries 2 credit units, at 300 level in Agricultural Sciences.
Is AFM305 hard?
AFM305 is rated intermediate level, with basic mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical, case study and problem solving work.
How long does AFM305 take to study?
About 208 hours of study, spread across its 31 units.
How is AFM305 assessed?
AFM305 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.
What can I do with AFM305?
Environmental Scientist, Fisheries Manager, Water Quality Analyst, Environmental Consultant and Hydrologist.