Course ID: | FISH 4200L/6200L. 1 hour. 3 hours lab per week. |
Course Title: | Aquatic Biology Lab |
Course Description: | An overview of aquatic environments with an emphasis on human
impacts and conservation of water resources. The course will
cover the fundamentals of applied aquatic ecology with a survey
of biota from headwater streams, lakes and reservoirs to
estuarine systems. |
Oasis Title: | AQUATIC BIOLOGY LAB |
Prerequisite: | BIOL 1108-1108L |
Corequisite: | FISH 4200/6200 |
Semester Course Offered: | Offered fall semester every year. |
Grading System: | A-F (Traditional) |
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Course Objectives: | This unique course will introduce students to the depth and
breadth of aquatic environments and biota. Aquatic diversity
from mountain streams to estuaries will link processes from the
rivers to seas. Despite their distinct biota and physical
characteristics, these systems share common properties and, at
the level of ecology, show many similarities. Coverage of
freshwater and marine systems will illustrate the principles
and properties that unify aquatic systems. Students will also
be exposed to the additive impacts humans have on each of these
systems and potential conservation or management to control
negative effects. Throughout this course students will
demonstrate their understanding through critical examination of
the facts and principles of the various aspects of aquatic
research, relate their insights to contemporary issues
involving pollution and development, and practice their
critical thinking, problem-solving and writing skills both in
the classroom and the laboratory. Integrated labs will provide
valuable practical experience with identification of aquatic
organisms and water quality sampling methods. Students will
obtain hands-on experience with research techniques for plants,
algae, and invertebrates, measuring and monitoring water
quality in aquatic environments through field trips to Georgia
aquatic environments. |
Topical Outline: | For each aquatic site, we will plan the research, conduct the
fieldwork, complete laboratory and statistical analysis, and
then develop the report. Planning will include mapping the
location and planning sampling intensity. We will first
develop the hypothesis to test at each site, then the analysis
we will use to test this research question. After completing
the required field and laboratory measurements, we will report
the data in one of four ways; 1) abstract and PowerPoint, 2)
preliminary grant proposal, 3) results section of a grant
report, and 4) methods/results section in journal.
Aquatic Sites
I. Creeks
II. Piedmont Rivers
III. Ponds
IV. Reservoirs
V. Coastal systems
1. Planning
1.1. GIS mapping of site
1.2. Research questions/analysis
1.3. Data sheets
1.4. Field equipment list
1.5. Reference List
2. Field trip
2.1. Water quality/field measurements
2.2. Field Identification
2.3. Sample collection
2.4. Sample processing
3. Laboratory/data analysis
3.1. Nutrients
3.2. Phytoplankton
3.3. Microbial assessments
3.4. Benthic inverts
3.5. Plankton samples
4. Reporting
4.1. Field/Lab notebooks
4.2. PowerPoint presentation
4.3. Grant proposal
4.4. Grant results reporting
4.5. Journal methods/results |
Honor Code Reference: | All academic work must meet the standards contained in the
University's academic honesty policy (see "A Culture of
Honesty"; www.uga.edu/honesty). This document states “Academic
honesty is defined broadly and simply-the performance of all
academic work without cheating, lying, stealing, or receiving
assistance from any other person or using any source of
information not appropriately authorized or attributed.” All
students are responsible for informing themselves about those
standards before performing any academic work. The penalties
for academic dishonesty are severe (see "Consequences for
Honesty Violations"; www.uga.edu/honesty), and ignorance is not
an acceptable defense. |