Pond & Stream Invertebrate Life (SELL)

Identify the smaller animals of freshwater ecosystems.

Tutor: Phil Ward

Happy childhood memories often include catching newts and sticklebacks and collecting frogspawn. Adults can build on this elementary knowledge and explore further the lives of the many invertebrate animals that make up a freshwater ecosystem. Field visits will be made to ponds and streams where different sampling techniques will be used to collect aquatic organisms. With the specimens indoors, their amazing diversity, adaptations and life cycles will be revealed with the aid of microscopes, identification keys and, of course, help from the tutor. The monitoring and management of ponds and streams to both assess their general status and to improve their biodiversity will be covered briefly.

Please go to http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/sell/lifelong-learning/ for all enquiries and bookings.