The course contains several components that focus on aquatic ecological and evolutionary theory. 

Through a combination of lectures and experiments the students acquire knowledge of e.g. bacteria production, primary production, competition, predator-prey interactions, migration and distribution patterns in time and space and which consequences these processes have for the function of aquatic ecosystems. The practical work is carried out in project groups where the students practice planning, implementation and presentation of scientific studies.
The course includes an introduction to aquatic databases and how these can be used for time series analyses of changes in and human impact on aquatic ecosystems through e.g. climate change, eutrophication, brownification or fishing. The course also includes an introduction to theory and laboratory work associated with basic molecular methods