AFI-33803 Building with nature: The use of ecosystem engineers for coastal protection

Vak

Studiepunten 3.00

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

AEW-22806 Marine Systems

Contents:

The course covers the following topics:
- introduction to the concepts of building with nature;
- ecological engineering - formation of biogenic reefs: conditions for settlement and development of mussel beds, oyster reefs and coral reefs;
- goods and services of eco-engineers to the ecosystem and to society; synergies of eco-engineering and aquatic production;
- the design of coastal protection using biogenic reefs in combination with other measures for coastal defence and maintaining tidal flats (e.g. nourishments) ;
- coastal processes: hydro-, morpho- and ecodynamics; and their interaction;
- effect of biogenic reefs on the environment (hydromorphological effects: impact on currents/waves, sedimentological effects: impact on erosion/stabilization, and ecological effects: impact on (surrounding) benthic invertebrates;
- coastal management - economic and governance aspects;
- building with nature: a global perspective. The course includes an in depth part focusing on the implementation and use of bivalve reefs for coastal protection and aquatic production in the Netherlands. This part of the course includes a case study and monitoring activities at an oyster reef in the field.

Learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:
- describe the principles of the Building with Nature concept for sustainable coastal intervention based on ecosystem engineering in combination with aquaculture (i.e. restoration, protection, production);
- describe the ecological role and societal importance of ecosystem engineers in a global perspective;
- apply the concept of ecosystem services as a tool to describe the value of ecosystems for nature and society;
- develop conceptual Building with Nature designs by acquiring and integrating information on physical processes, biogeomorphological processes, ecological processes and biological production processes;
- analyse and describe the economic and governance aspects (cost-benefit analysis, risk assessment, legislation, stakeholder involvement) of a Building with Nature design;
- carry out first-order detailing of conceptual designs (e.g. application of simple design rules, order of magnitude analysis, feasibility check, assessment of ecological and societal effects);
- compare Building with Nature designs with traditional coastal protection and aquaculture schemes.

Activities:

The students need to work with the models and apply them. They don't need to understand all background physics. Therefore the project work plays a dominant role in the examination. Small groups of students (2-4 students) cooperate on one project during the course. The field experiments are integrated in this project.

Examination:

Project report (70%); Oral presentation (10%) and Exercises (20%).

Literature:

Wiki on Building with Nature developed by Ecoshape.nl