Course Details in 2026/27 Session

Module Title	LM River Habitats and Biogeochemistry – Assessment and Monitoring
School	School of Geog Earth & Env Sci
Department	Earth and Environ Sciences
Module Code	03 34130
Module Lead	Rebecca Bartlett & Melanie Bickerton
Level	Masters Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 2
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Contact Hours	Lecture-25 hours Seminar-5 hours Practical Classes and workshops-24 hours Fieldwork-6 hours Guided independent study-140 hours Total: 200 hours
Exclusions
Description	This module will introduce a broad understanding of river chemistry, biology and habitat characteristics, the processes controlling the variability of these in the natural environment, and a range of river habitat and water quality assessment and monitoring techniques. The course is multidisciplinary, introducing chemical, biological and ecological concepts to students of all academic backgrounds, within the context of river habitats, sediment biogeochemistry and catchment hydrology. There is a strong focus on water quality and the major nutrient cycles (carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus); ecological and microbial processes, biological adaptations and use of organisms as indicators of habitat and water quality. Impacts of anthropogenic activities, and how these are measured, monitored and regulated, is also an important theme. Methods to map, measure and sample the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of rivers will be discussed and then applied on a local watercourse. The historical development and advantages and disadvantages of different approaches will be considered in the context of changing pressures on river systems and current legislation. This module will also use research-led case studies to explore the potential impact of biogeochemical and ecological data on environmental policy and land use management.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: Understand how natural and anthropogenic factors influence river habitat and water quality.Have a critical understanding of legislation driving water quality classification and monitoring strategies; Be proficient in a range of techniques used in habitat and water quality assessment and monitoring, and be able to design and implement a river assessment programme; Identify the biogeochemical controls on the main nutrient cycles (C, N, P, S) within fluvial catchments, and how they are impacted by environmental change (climate and anthropogenic activity); Assess environmental chemistry as a tracer of biogeochemical process.
Assessment	34130-01 : Field Assessment : Coursework (5%) 34130-02 : Lab Assessment : Coursework (5%) 34130-03 : Essay : Coursework (40%) 34130-04 : Report : Coursework (40%) 34130-05 : Presentation (Discussion Class 1 - Nitrogen) : Presentation (5%) 34130-06 : Presentation (Discussion Class 2 - Carbon) : Presentation (5%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessment: Essay (40%); 2000 words, choice of titles Report (40%); 2000 words based on field and lab data; Discussion class x2 (10%): 1 x 2h paper discussion (5%) (including 1 x 10 min individual presentation and 1 x 10 minute group presentation), 1 x fictional catchment workshop (5%) (each student leads 1 discussion of 10 minutes each) Field & Lab Assessment x2 (10%): 1 x field notebook/observations (5%), 1 x lab notebook/results (5%) - 8 macroinvertebate IDs. Reassessment: 2000 word report (50%); resubmission of original report/data, or data provided as appropriate 2000 word essay (50%): resubmission of original title or the alternative title as appropriate
Other
Reading List