Description

The lecture teaches basics in river and wetland ecology, with focus on alluvial geomorphology (weathering, valley shape forms, terrace development, sediment transport, river stretch development, river bed processes), hydrology (discharge, hydrological regimes, surface water - groundwater interactions, water temperature, water ingredients, trophic levels), vegetation ecology (biogeography, succession, herbaceous and woody vegetation, invasive species), fauna (benthic organisms, fish), ecological principles (island theory, meta-populations, river continuum concept, flood pulse concept), as well as on the definition, classification, distribution, and conservation of wetlands. The teaching of all topics is accompanied by numerous examples from German, European, and tropical river wetlands. The lecture is designed for higher semesters of BSc and MSc-students of physical geography and geoecology, in which basic knowledge is of advantage, but not compelling. A written exam is offered at the end of the course/semester.