- Enseignant-e: Cécilia Barouillet
- Enseignant-e: Bastiaan Willem Ibelings
Program Aquatic Ecology Course Fall 2026
Room 002 - 10h15 – 12h00
|
Date |
Topic |
|
16/09 |
Introduction: the importance of freshwater ecosystems Keywords: biogeochemical cycles, ecosystem services, emotional, cultural significance (through time and space) |
|
23/09 |
Physical limnology Keywords: temperature, light, heat, wind |
|
30/09 |
Water Chemistry Keywords: nutrients, pH, DOC, salinity |
|
7/10 |
Freshwater biodiversity Keywords: algae, macrophytes, zooplankton, macroinvertebrates, fish, fungi, protists, bacteria, zones, |
|
14/10 |
Visit LéXPLORE (To Be Confirmed) |
|
21/10 |
Lake restoration I |
|
28/10 |
Lake restoration II |
|
4/11 |
Visit Maison de la Rivière |
|
11/11 |
Understanding freshwater ecosystems Keywords: meso- macro- micro- cosmos, eDNA, (high and low frequency) survey/monitoring, Modeling, Spatial |
|
18/11 |
Lake restoration III |
|
25/11 |
Environmental change and growing water insecurity Keywords: Climate change, pollution (eutrophication, salinity, micropollutants), storytelling (acid rain / eutrophication), environmental policy (RAMSAR, legal entity) |
|
02/12 |
Visit CIPEL |
|
09/12 |
General Course to combine all concepts into a role-playing game |
|
16/12 |
Visit Musée du Léman |
|
Jan / Fev 2027 |
Exam / Open Questions |
Background
Limnology is a large subject that covers geological, physical, and chemical aspects of freshwater environments, as well as their biology and development. In this course, we will attempt to present an overview, emphasizing fundamental interactions and processes. The objectives of this course are to provide you with a basic understanding of the physical, chemical, and biological processes in lakes, as well as an appreciation of the impact of human activities on these waterbodies through practical examples such as the eutrophication and re-oligotrophication of Lake Geneva and the restoration of water bodies.
Course material will be presented using multiple approaches—formal lectures, practical sessions, and site visits. The material introduced throughout the course, including observations during site visits, will be covered in the final exam.
Objectives
This course provides a comprehensive understanding of freshwater ecosystems, equipping students with foundational knowledge and practical skills essential for understanding aquatic environments and their management.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
· Apprehend freshwater ecosystem and their significance
· Understand how physical and chemical parameters shape lake dynamics
· Recognize the diversity of aquatic organisms
· Understand and apply modern monitoring techniques
· Evaluate lake restoration strategies to help prepare students for future jobs in aquatic research or lake management
· Address environmental challenges: Examine pressing issues such as climate change, eutrophication, salinization, and micropollutant contamination while exploring environmental policy frameworks (RAMSAR, legal entity recognition)
· Introduce the students to lake-oriented organizations and partner institutes in the region, through visits to Maison de la Rivière, Musée du Léman, LéXPLORE
Bibliographie
Link to tutorial videos: https://limnology.org/resources/wetzel-videos/
Ibelings, B.W., Fastner, J., Bormans, M., Visser, P.M., 2016. Cyanobacterial blooms. Ecology, prevention, mitigation and control: Editorial to a CYANOCOST Special Issue. Aquat Ecol 50, 327–331. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10452-016-9595-y
Lampert, W., Sommer, U., 2007. Limnoecology, Second ed. ed. Oxford university press, Oxford.
Likens, G.E., 2009. Encyclopedia of inland waters, 1st ed. ed. Academic Press, London Boston.
Smol, J.P., 2009. Pollution of Lakes and Rivers: A Paleoenvironmental Perspective, 2nd ed. ed. John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated, Hoboken.
Wetzel, R.G., 2024. Wetzel’s limnology: lake and river ecosystems, Fourth edition. ed. Academic Press, an imprint of Elsevier, London San Diego, CA Cambridge, MA Oxford.