Information Package / Course Catalogue
Ecology of Freshwater Phytoplankton
Course Code: BİO559
Course Type: Area Elective
Couse Group: Second Cycle (Master's Degree)
Education Language: Turkish
Work Placement: N/A
Theory: 3
Prt.: 0
Credit: 3
Lab: 0
ECTS: 6
Objectives of the Course

To understand the description of freshwater plankton and their ecology, interactions of planktons with eachother and environmental factors.

Course Content

To teach plankton terminology (phytoplankton, zooplankton), types of plankton, relationship with nutrients and planktons, seasonal variation and affecting factors, growth and reproduction of planktons, planktons as environmental indicators and eutrophication and pollution.

Name of Lecturer(s)
Learning Outcomes
1.To be able to recognise freshwater planktons
2.To be able to comprehend the importance of plankton in freshwater ecosystems
3.To be able to comprehend the relationship between plankton and nutrients
4.To be able to learn growth and loss process and factors affecting them
5.
Recommended or Required Reading
1.The ecology of freshwater phytoplankton. C.S. Reynolds, 1984
2.Ecology of freshwaters. Brian Moss, 1991
3.The ecology of Algae, F.E. Round, Cambridge University press, 1979
4.The Biology of Algae, F.E. Round, Edward Arnold Ltd., 1977
5.Freshwater algae: Their microscopic world explored, H. Canter-Lund & J. WG Lund, Biopress Ltd. 1996
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
Week 1 - Theoretical
What is plankton?
Week 2 - Theoretical
General features of planktonic algae
Week 3 - Theoretical
Mechanism of bouyancy
Week 4 - Theoretical
Photosynthetic activity of planktons
Week 5 - Theoretical
Spatial and temporal distribution of phytoplankton
Week 6 - Theoretical
Nutrients and relationship with phytoplankton
Week 7 - Theoretical
Nitrate, phosphorus and phytoplankton
Week 8 - Theoretical
Mid term exam
Week 9 - Intermediate Exam
Phytoplankton distribution and zooplankton grazing
Week 10 - Theoretical
Loss process of plankton
Week 11 - Theoretical
Plankton Seasonality
Week 12 - Theoretical
Long term floristic variations
Week 13 - Theoretical
Plankton behavior in deep and shallow lakes
Week 14 - Theoretical
Growth and survival, Planktons and fish community relation
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Type of AssessmentCountPercent
Attending Lectures10%10
Term Assignment1%20
Midterm Examination1%30
Final Examination1%70
Workload Calculation
ActivitiesCountPreparationTimeTotal Work Load (hours)
Lecture - Theory142370
Assignment2114
Term Project26114
Laboratory51110
Reading201140
Midterm Examination1628
Final Examination18210
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours)156
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
PÇ-1
PÇ-2
PÇ-3
PÇ-4
PÇ-5
PÇ-6
PÇ-7
PÇ-8
PÇ-9
PÇ-10
PÇ-11
PÇ-12
OÇ-1
4
OÇ-2
4
OÇ-3
4
OÇ-4
4
OÇ-5
2
Adnan Menderes University - Information Package / Course Catalogue
2026