BACHELOR OF SCIENCE HONOURS AQUATIC SCIENCE AND ECOLOGY (HASE)
| Module Code | Module Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| HASE101 | Animal Biodiversity | This course is an introductory foundation course on animal biodiversity. The course aims to briefly outline the organisation in the animal kingdom. It also explains the evolution of the 2 main lines of animals (vertebrates and invertebrates). The objective is to introduce the student to the animal kingdom so that they are able to characterise each phylum, classify animals correctly and appreciate the level of diversity in the animal kingdom. Topics to be taught include: introduction to animal biodiversity and evolution, porifera and placozoa, introduction to the eumetazoa, cnidaria and ctenophora, introduction to the bilateria/platyhelminthes, turbellaria, platyhelminths, monogenea and trematoda, nematoda and acanthocephala, mollusca, annelida, introduction to the arthropoda, trilobitomorpha and chelicerata, crustacea, insecta, introduction to deuterostomata and hemichordata, echinodermata and introduction to the chordata. |
| HASE102 | Plant Biodiversity | This course introduces all major concepts on the origin and diversity of plants. Topics include: introduction to the plant kingdom, chlorophytes, charophytes, bryophytes, features of tracheophyte plants, lycophytes, pterophytes, gymnosperms and angiosperms. The students will learn theoretical and practical approaches to understanding origins, diversification and speciation of plants. |
| HASE103 | Introductory Genetics | The purpose of this course is to provide an in-depth background in all areas of classical Mendelian genetics, molecular genetics and population and evolutionary genetics. |
| HASE404 | Integrated Water Resources Management and integrated lake basin management | This is a multidisciplinary course that will train student in the management and conservation of water and water resources. This course aims to familiarise students with current issues in watershed management and conservation of aquatic resources. Students will learn how to address complex issues in natural resources management from local, national, regional and global perspectives. The aim of the course is to teach students how to explore human interactions with aquatic ecosystems and application of various approaches to their management. Topics taught include: hydrology and management of water and water resources, water demand and its impact on human communities, impacts of human activities, catchment management, issues of aquatic ecosystem management and aquatic biodiversity conservation, conservation problems and threats to African aquatic biodiversity, integrated catchment management, conservation of aquatic resources (e.g. includes tools such as IWRM, ILBM), land use, land tenure and property rights, and social issues in watershed management. The course will also introduce students to the concept of integrated lake basin management. Topics include: Lake drainage basin, biophysical characteristics of lakes, threats to lake environment (overharvesting, invasive/alien species, siltation, pollution, eutrophication, climate change); ILBM concept - institutions, stakeholder participation, polices, technology, information, finance (mobilizing sustainable funding; planning; towards the future); conflict resolution, good governance. Lessons lent from global ILBM experiences (case studies) - Lakes Kariba, Chivero, Victoria, Baikal, Biwa, Chad, Champlain, Nicaragua, Great Lakes, Malawi, Naivasha, Nakuru, Tanganyika will be used |
| HASE105 |
Microbiology |
This course will teach fundamentals of microbiology, including microbial structure and function, nutrition and growth, death and control. Importance and applications of major microbial groups: viruses and monera – the diversity among the viruses and in the kingdom monera. Fungi – the diversity among the fungi including the division eumycota and the lichens. |
| HASE106 |
Methods in Biology |
This course will train students to apply sound experimental investigation and analyses to biological questions. The course provides students with a sound foundation of what it takes to become a good scientist. It inculcates scientific thinking and culture, invoke awareness of the natural environment and how to use powers of observation to formulate research questions, develop research proposals, execute the proposals, write-up the results and present them to a scientific audience. Topics taught include: introduction to scientific theory and scientific method, introduction to scientific writing and making an oral presentation and use of software such as powerpoint to make presentations and posters. |
|
Ecology |
In this course students will investigate interactions among organisms and the environment in which they live. There are seven main ecological components namely the species concept, models of speciation, interactions amongst organisms, population ecology, community ecology, energy and nutrient cycles, ecological effects of anthropogenic activities and conservation of aquatic systems. The course also introduces students to some aspects of sampling in aquatic systems and to some simple statistical concepts. | |
| HASE201 |
Biometrics |
This course will provide a practical introduction to analysis of biological data. Basic statistical techniques will be covered, including descriptive statistics, elements of probability, hypothesis testing, sampling, analysis of categorical data and estimation. Emphasis will be on how to choose appropriate statistical tests and how to assess statistical significance. Other statistical techniques covered include; linear regression, multiple regression, ANOVA and non parametric tests. To visualize data and carry out statistical testing, students will learn R, a powerful programming language for statistical computing and graphics. No previous knowledge in statistics or programming is required, although those with no programming experience will be expected to devote extra time. The class format will be a combination of lecture and computer lab exercises. |
| HASE108 | Plankton Ecology | Aspects to be taught include plankton diversity and dynamics in different ecosystems like streams, large rivers, lakes, and other aquatic habitats. Various factors, both biotic and abiotic, that affect freshwater algal dynamics will be discussed and the role played by algae in a variety of complex freshwater ecosystems will be emphasized. As concern over environmental health escalates, the keystone and pivotal role played by pankton is becoming more apparent and will be emphasised using case studies e.g. Lake Chivero and Lake Kariba. |
| HASE405 | Global Climate Change and Aquatic Ecosystem Health | The goal of this course is to explore the greatest challenge that human kind has ever faced- climate change. Topics covered include: the science that underpins our understanding of climate change (that is, its causes); impact of climate change on aquatic resources/systems i.e. rivers, lakes, wetlands and their ecology; adaptive management and building resilience of aquatic resources. |
| HASE207 | Fisheries Biology and Management | In this course students will investigate fisheries concepts, fisheries models, their interpretations and application. It will also train students in the use of classic and current methods in fisheries assessments. Students will learn the types of fisheries and fished organisms, the interaction of the fished organisms and their environment, factors affecting fishing and fisheries objectives. Emphasis will be placed on the fisheries in Africa and, in particular, types in Zimbabwe. Topics covered include: common fishing methods; small scale and commercial fisheries, practices, patterns, and public policy; fishing gear; catch/yield management; stock assessment; catch quotas; carrying capacity; habitat loss; climate change; population dynamics; productivity; ecosystem based fisheries; human factors; nutrition and feeding; resources allocation and partitioning, influence of dams on river fisheries. A comparative typology of capture fisheries in rivers, lakes and reservoirs, floodplains and coastal areas will be explored. |
| HASE208 | Aquaculture and Aquaponics | This course provides the student with an understanding of the basic principles of aquaculture while giving the student the opportunity to experience hands-on activities associated with the culture and husbandry of aquatic organisms. Topics include: fish, requirements and site evaluation, propagation and stock improvement, aquaculture systems: open, semi-closed, recirculating (closed); factors affecting aquaculture; nutrition and feeding; resources allocation and partitioning; environmental impact, preparation and management of fish farms, collection, transport of seed and stocking of ponds, brief description of monoculture and polyculture of fish; common diseases of fish in ponds and their control measures; case studies; designing, construction; aquaculture and its historical development worldwide, its contribution to food supply, non-food species, methods of production, environmental and ecological considerations, culture practices employed for selected species, selective breeding, feeding, processing, and marketing. In addition, the course will explore why most aquaculture ventures in southern Africa have failed to be commercially successful. |
| HASE203 | Lentic and Lotic Systems Ecology | The objectives of the course are to provide students with a basic understanding of the physical, chemical, and biological processes in lakes and rivers, as well as an appreciation of the impact of human activities on these water bodies. For the lotic systems topics include: introduction and scope; origin of lotic and lentic waters; classification of rivers, lakes and reservoirs, zonation, thermal stratification; water movement; eutrophication; physical properties of water (temperature, light, colour, turbidity, conductivity); chemical properties of water (pH, oxygen, carbon dioxide, salinity, dissolved solids, trace elements;
nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon cycle) and their influence on biota; morphological and morphometrical aspects of water bodies; interrelation between various physical, chemical and biological variables and morphological and morphometrical aspects of water bodies and their influence on biota. A brief comparative typology of African lakes and reservoirs with cases studies of the following lakes: Kariba, Chivero, Victoria, Tanganyika, Malawi, the Kafue flats and the Okavango Delta will be presented. Om the lotic systems the course focuses on the integrative principles of stream, river, and watershed ecology as a means of understanding the natural history and ecology of running waters. Topics will include the composition and function of biota in streams and rivers; their interactions with their physical, chemical, and biotic environments; and human influences on these ecosystems. The course seeks to enhance students’ knowledge with regards to the follow: Physical, chemical, and biological organization of streams; Current theory in stream and watershed ecology; Landscape/watershed perspectives for studying flowing waters and for understanding the effects of anthropogenic activities on streams and rivers and laboratory and field skills for conducting stream research. |
| HASE402 | Ecohydrology and Watershed Restoration | This module investigates hydrologic mechanisms underlying climate-soil-vegetation dynamics and land-water dynamics the degradation of aquatic ecosystems, efforts to restore streams, rivers and lakes throughout the world. Topics covered include: hydrologic and atmospheric processes in the water cycle, frequency analysis (rainfall, hydrological extremes e.g. floods and droughts, hydrological modelling; human impacts on hydrology; buffering capacity of ecosystems against human impacts. In addition, the module also include: aquatic ecosystems and their relations with climatology, hydrology, water chemistry,toxicology, integrated computerized models based on this knowledge; and prediction of changes in the aquatic systems – simulations, scenario – with random variations of hydro-climatological, chemical and biological data, or variations due to management politics. |
| HASE204 | Ichthyology | This course seeks to provide basic information on fishes, their evolutionary history, diversity, systematics, morphology, anatomy, physiology and conservation. Topics covered include: introduction to Ichthyology, history of Ichthyology, classification of fishes and their distribution diversity, morphology, forms and locomotion, integumentary, skeletal, digestive, circulatory, respiratory, excretory; reproductive, nervous systems and sense organs of a cartilaginous fish, skeletal, integumentary, digestive, respiratory, circulatory, urinogenital reproductive, nervous system and sense organs of a bony fish; osmoregulation; ecophysiology of fishes, reproductive physiology and endocrinology; physiology of fish behaviour; breeding habits and parental care in fishes; types of eggs, fish migration, behaviour and communication, fish of Zimbabwe. |
| HASE403 | Environmental Impact Assessment | The aim of the course is to teach the basic principles of carrying out EIAs and provide knowledge of sustainable development through use of EIA. The course also aims to explain the tools and approaches in EIA. Topics to be investigated include: what EIA is and its purpose, project cycle and the EIA cycle, environment in EIA, methods employed in EIA, ecosystem services and their valuation, identification and classification of environmental impacts, mitigation measures, designing and implementation of environmental management plans, writing prospectors and environmental impact statement and environmental monitoring and auditing. |
| HASE202 | Hydrology, Water Quality Monitoring and | The hydrologic and ecological mechanisms underlying climate-soil-vegetation dynamics and land-water dynamics the degradation of aquatic ecosystems, and efforts to restore streams, rivers and lakes throughout the world will be discussed. There will also be focus on: design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation systems, restoration principles and techniques, assessment of current and historic watershed and stream ecosystem conditions, identification and prioritization of restoration and protection opportunities, and their evaluation from a scientific and economic perspective, developing watershed restoration plans, bioremediation and bio-monitoring. The course will train students in important areas of water quantity and quality such as physico-chemical monitoring, bio-monitoring and water pollution mapping and control and use of water quality data in decision making. The students will be trained in the total and systematic evaluation of the local water situation in order to determine the state of the water sources and water demand, conformity with water quality standards and legislation, pollution and resource vulnerability, quality monitoring, data management, and recommend mitigatory and remedial measures. |
| HASE205 | Ecotoxicology | The course will impart knowledge on chemical properties of xenobiotics and other anthropogenic substances, their interactions with the biosphere, their detection and monitoring. The course will provide useful skills to enhance students’ ability to evaluate environmental health on the basis of exposures to chemicals, pathogens and toxic chemicals. Emphasis will be on aquatic toxicology: basic principles; whole effluent toxicity testing of anthropogenic pollutants; biomagnification and bioaccumulation in aquatic ecosystems; case studies in aquatic toxicology; biomarkers of pollution at genetic, cellular, histopathological and organismal levels (active biomonitoring); field and laboratory methods in ecotoxicology; ecotoxicology seminar series, risk assessment; techniques of pollution assessment (biomonitoring and basics of ecotoxicology). |
| HASE206 | Wetlands Ecology | This course will provide an overview of wetlands as ecological systems that are prime habitats for wildlife and fish: geomorphology, hydrology, geochemistry, limnology, plant and animal communities, and humans use and management; and wetlands as ultimate reservoirs of environmental pollutants. The course will provide students with a broad understanding of wetlands ecosystems with an emphasis on ecological principles required to understand how they function and how they are affected by human activities. Topics to be investigated include: Importance and Classification of Wetlands; Plant adaptations to wetland –hydrophytes; Hydrologic and water quality functions of wetlands-Case study of Harare wetlands; Case study: Functioning and dynamics of wetland vegetation of Lake Victoria; Wetland Biogeochemistry; Plant succession in wetlands -Models of Wetland Ecosystem Development; Causes and consequences of invasive plants in wetlands; Driefontein wetland ecosystem and the application of the Ramsar Wise Use Concept; Values and Valuation of Wetland Ecosystems. |
| HASE401 | Environmental Flows Assessment | This course introduces the concept of environmental flows and explains why maintaining environmental flows is needed for human and ecosystem well-being. It presents the methods to assess environmental flows, including their advantages and limitations. Topics include: how environmental flows can be included at project level or when planning land use and resource development at a regional scale, what environmental flows are, their relevance for managing water and natural resources, explain the key physical, chemical and biological processes of river systems that are relevant to environmental flows and analyse legislation, policies and social dimensions that influence the implementation of environmental flows at multiple geographic scales, including the involvement of stakeholders and the societal benefits of flow-related ecosystem services. |
| HASE107 | Aquatic Invertebrates | This course introduces students to the biology of non-vertebrate aquatic organisms, their evolutionary adaptations to the dynamics of the aquatic environment and considers the ecological significance of the organisms to fisheries and humans in all aspects like parasites and disease vectors. Topics to be taught include: biology, development and life history, evolutionary, structure (major body plans) and functional characteristics of the main invertebrate phyla with emphasis on evolutionary developments; diversity, parasitism, mutualism and commensalism; ecological significance. |
| HASE104 | Aquatic microbiology | The course aims to introduce students to microorganisms indigenous to non-polluted and polluted aquatic ecosystems; their role, identity, and properties in aquatic ecosystems, including microorganisms associated with fish and other aquatic organisms. Microorganisms to be studied include: bacteria and viruses. Topics include: microorganisms and biogeochemical cycling, biodegradation of pollutants and water quality; enumeration and characterization of microorganisms from aquatic environments (water, sediment, animals); measurement of microbial activities, biomass, chlorophyll a; enumeration of indicator bacteria; molecular characterization of aquatic microorganisms; contemporary modern molecular methods that are used in aquatic microbiology; use of microorganisms as indicators of pollution; bacterial and fungal fish diseases and methods of their control |
| HASE406 | GIS Application in Aquatic Ecosystems and Remote Sensing | The course introduces students to fundamental concepts in GIS and their application to water resources. Topics include: introduction to GIS; utility of GIS in decision making regarding water resource issues; data input, data analysis and associated technology; spatial analysis in raster and vector-based systems; concepts, techniques and application; current, airborne and satellite systems;data acquisition on ground and from remote locations; instrumentation; imagery interpretation and digital analysis. |
| HASEC470 | Research Project | Students will write a final honours dissertation. The dissertation must demonstrate that the student is familiar with the theoretical underpinnings of the area under investigation, thorough in review of relevant and recent literature as well as the ability to report information in a scientific format and scholarly manner. There will be a demonstration of knowledge and conceptual understanding of the methods and data analysis and appropriate statistical analysis for the presentation of results. |