Ecotoxicology and statistics (5 cr)

Objective

The course is an introduction to the field of ecotoxicology: the study of the fate and effects of contaminants in ecosystems. The course covers the fate of chemicals in the environment, sorption and degradation of chemicals, bioavailability and biomagnification of chemicals and dose-response relationships. It is further considered, how environmental factors affect exposure and toxicity, and how the effects on individuals affect populations and communities. The statistical part deals with research problems with proper methods and you are able to produce, present and critically analyze statistical data. You also learn to perfprm basic statistical tests with computer programs.

Content

What happens to chemicals in the environment?
How can bioavailability be estimated?
What kind of effects do chemicals cause?
What kind of environmental factors affect the environmental fate of chemicals?
How to use statistical tests in your work?
How can basic statistical tests be done by computer programs?

Evaluation

Students can:
use professional vocabulary and concepts in an expert way in different situations.
evaluate information sources critically.
work as team members in working life expert duties and identify and describe the problems of the professional field.
choose appropriate models, methods, software and techniques according to the purpose and justify these choices.
apply critically the ethical principles of the professional field in different situations.

Course material

Study material is provided in Learn.

Study forms and methods

You will attend teaching and field work as specified in the weekly schedule. Your study routine is determined by the scheduled group sessions and by the self-study assignments.

RDI and work-related cooperation

If possible

Timing of exams and assignments

Ecotox & Laboratory part : No exam, mandatory to participate in laboratory work
Statistics: Evaluation based on the tasks

Student workload

135 h

Course part description

1 credit - Lectures about ecotoxicology and instruction to the lab
2 credits - Laboratory part, 3 Ecotoxicological test (soil, water, biotox)
2 credits - Statistics related to the ecotoxicological tests

Evaluation scale

Approved/Failed

Assessment methods and criteria

Pass/Fail

You must participate to the laboratory work and complete the mandatory tasks related to them (statistics part).