This week, our partner Wassercluster Lunz hosted a practical hydrobiology course designed for students in environmental pedagogy, led by Dr. Gabriele Weigelhofer and Eva Feldbacher (WCL, INSE).
The course combined fieldwork and lab exercises to explore how land use, nutrient loading, and stream regulation impact aquatic ecosystems. In the field, students measured stream structure, sampled organisms, and assessed the ecological state of the stream based on saprobiological, chemical and hydro-morphological characteristics.
In a pond system, they studied zonation and sampled aquatic organisms. Back in the lab, students identified aquatic species and learned about their adaptations to flow, feeding, and life cycles. They also conducted simple ecological experiments suitable for classroom teaching.
This hands-on experience offered valuable insights into the ecological functioning of freshwater systems and equipped future educators with tools for inspiring environmental awareness.
