Course Syllabus
Synopsis
Regulatory policies for the protection of the aquatic environment. Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA). Ecotoxicological bioassays in ERA. Marine pollution biomonitoring. Biological effects assessment through biomarkers and biomarker indices. Environmental Specimen Banks.
Aims
- To develop the abilities that enable suitable study design of ecotoxicology in environmental risk assessment
- To provide the criteria useful for analysing and interpretation of toxicity and bioaccumulation data
- To develop the abilities that enable suitable study design of pollution biominotirngprogrammes
- To provide the criteria useful for analysing and interpretation of ecologically relevant environmental levels of pollutants and their biological effects
Objectives
At the end of the Unit, you should:
- Identify the main questions that can be addressed by the use of bioassays and biomarkers
- Know the advanced methods for the determination of ecotoxicity of contaminated water and sediments
- Understand the role of toxicity testing into an integrative risk assessment of the aquatic ecosystems
- Know the advanced methods for biomonitoring pollution and its biological effects
- Understand the role of biological endpoints into an integrative assessment of aquatic pollution, its biological effects and their ecological consequences.
Key Skills Acquired
At the end of the Unit, you should be able to:
- Face problem analysis in an aquatic environment related to risk assessment
- Face problem analysis in an aquatic environment related to pollution biomonitoring
- Achieve clear expression (oral or written) of conclusions from results derived from bioassays
Programme
1.Introduction: Basic Concepts
2. Environmental monitoring. Chemical biomonitoring: baselines and long-term trends. Mussel Watch and Pollution Indices. Biological effects assessment: biological endpoints. Marine ecosystem health indices. Design of biomonitoring programmes and Environmental Specimen Banks (ESBs). Case studies.
3. Environmental risk assessment (ERA). Ecotoxicity bioassays in aquatic systems. ERA approaches: Effects-Directed-Analysis (EDA), Toxicity-Identification-Evaluation(TIE) and Weight-of-Evidence (WoE). Toxicity profiling. Case studies.
Practical session 1: Pollution Indices
Practical session 2: Ecosystem Health Indices
Practical session 3: Coastal biomonitoring – design and sampling
Practical session 4: ERA calculations (PNEC, WoE)
Practical session 5: Acute toxicity testing – laboratory assay
Learning & Teaching:
Lectures and Practicals: (40 hr)
Teaching Staff : I Marigomez (Coord.), U Izagirre
Semester: 2
Timetable slot: To be advised
ECTS:4
Level: Optional
Bibliography: Delivered during the course
Assessment
- Written exam: 25% (definitions)
- Oral presentation (Poster Corner) + Practicals& Projects: 75%
Course Evaluation
By completion of University Unit Evaluation Questionnaire by students, annual assessment by Unit Coordinator.