Detailed Information
AE-HN102 - The Freshwater Detective
The island of Ireland possesses an aquatic heritage which is unique in Europe. Packed into a land area of just 84,000 km2 is a vast array of loughs, rivers and streams. Some of the bolder strewn, brassy river channels flash by for all to see; some are hidden from view and furtively skirt unnoticed along the edges of the hedgerows. Still others flow largely beneath our feet, only appearing above ground for tantalisingly short periods. Our lakes are shallow, often wind swept and amongst the most highly productive still-waters in the world. Easily damaged by over-enrichment, they demand careful and thoughtful stewardship. During our course we will examine this unique resource: its sources and origin, its contribution to biological diversity and its importance for the landscape and for humans. The course will teach the students the basics of becoming a Freshwater Detective and how, using the presence or absence of specific insects or fish, to read a river corridor or lake shore and to detect the presence of key predators such as otter and mink. This in turn will ensure that students can become guardians of this unique Irish resource. The course will comprise six talks and three field visits to locations in Dublin and Wicklow.
BELFIELD
6 Mondays 7.00pm-9.00pm
Classroom: Oct 2, 9, 16, 23, Nov 6, 13
(No class Oct 30 - bank holiday weekend)
3 Saturdays
Field Trips: Oct 14 (x 3 hours – River Rye Water, Leixlip, Kildare)
Nov 4 (x 3 hours – River Dodder Dublin)
Nov 18 (x 2 hours – Sea World Bray & River Dargle Wicklow)
Part 1: The Physical structure and functioning of Irish lakes and river
· Glacial history
· Geology and Topography
· The sources of water and the water cycle
Part 2: Invertebrate and plant life in our rivers and lakes
· An introduction to the ecology of freshwater
· Life in rivers and streams
· The main invertebrate and plant groups
· Skills of the Freshwater Detective
Part 3: Using animals and plants to assess water quality
· The Biological index of water quality
· River corridors – their conservation and management
Part 4: Fish and other wildlife in our rivers and lakes
· Getting to know the freshwater fish of Ireland
· The biology of resident and migratory stocks
· How fish populations work
· Fish predators – detecting their presence
· Invasive species or new neighbours?
Part 5: Threats and opportunities
· Pollution and degradation of habitat
· Managing pollution sources in rivers and lakes at local and international level
· The national water resource and its wise use
No core text books required but students could visit the following websites:
Inland Fisheries Ireland: www.fisheriesireland.ie
Environmental Protection Agency: www.epa.ie
Marine Institute: www.marine.ie
Wild Trout Trust: www.wildtrout.org
Atlantic Salmon Trust: http://www.atlanticsalmontrust.org/
Ken Whelan works as an environmental and fisheries consultant – http://www.kenwhelan.info/. He is also an Adjunct Professor in UCD’s School of Biology and Environmental Science. Ken was formerly Chairman of the Biodiversity Forum but is best known for his work on the Atlantic salmon. He has also produced, presented and scripted many wildlife films and videos. He is a regular radio contributor to the Mooney Goes Wild programme. Ken recently published a major book on sea trout: Nomads of the Tides: Fishing for Irish Sea Trout (2013, Medlar Press, UK).
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On completion of the course, the learner will be able to
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