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| Course ID: | ECOL(FISH)(WASR) 4310/6310. 3 hours. | | Course Title: | Freshwater Ecosystems | Course
Description: | Exploration of freshwater ecosystems (lakes, streams, wetlands), their biota, physical and chemical properties, and linkages between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. | | Oasis Title: | Freshwater Ecosystems | | Prerequisite: | (ECOL 3500 and ECOL 3500L) or (ECOL 3505H and ECOL 3505L) or (FANR 3200W and FANR 3200L) | Semester Course
Offered: | Offered fall semester every year. | | Grading System: | A-F (Traditional) |
| | Course Objectives: | • To increase student understanding of the ecological structure and function of freshwater systems. We will accomplish this goal by studying the basic physics, chemistry, and biology of lakes, streams, and wetlands, and becoming familiar with many of the techniques used in aquatic ecological research.
• To increase student understanding of current threats to freshwater ecosystems. We will accomplish this goal by studying the ways in which freshwater ecosystems are potentially degraded using the assigned readings in the text and the peer-reviewed literature.
• To learn the skills needed to become a proficient scientific writer and communicator. The expectation is that when finished with the course, students will be confident in conducting and analyzing freshwater ecological research and be capable of communicating the results of their work. | | Topical Outline: | Section 1: Physical and chemical dynamics of freshwater ecosystems
Lecture 1 - Introduction to limnology
Lecture 2 - Physical properties of water
Lecture 3 - Physiography of lakes
Lecture 4 - Southeastern reservoirs
Lecture 5 - Hydrology and physiography of wetlands and flowing waters
Lecture 6 - Chemistry controlling nutrient cycling
Lecture 7 - Carbon dynamics in freshwater ecosystems
Lecture 8 - N, S, P, and other nutrients
Section 2: Freshwater organisms and sources of change to freshwater ecosystems
Lecture 9 - Toxins and pollutants
Lecture 10 - Urbanization and effects on aquatic systems
Lecture 11 - Heterotrophic microorganisms in lakes and streams
Lecture 12 - Primary producers in lakes and streams
Lecture 13 - Consumers in streams
Lecture 14 - Fish Ecology
Lecture 15 - Consumers in lakes
Lecture 16 - Nutrient use / stoichiometry
Lecture 17 - Eutrophication
Section 3: Ecology and interactions among freshwater organisms and functioning of freshwater ecosystems
Lecture 18 - Microbial interactions
Lecture 19 - Herbivory, detritivory, omnivory
Lecture 20 - Predation in lakes and streams
Lecture 21 - Community ecology
Lecture 22 - Food webs
Lecture 23 - Invasive species
Lecture 24 - Stream ecosystems
Lecture 25 - Lake ecosystems
Lecture 26 - Tropical vs temperate ecosystems
Lecture 27 - Restoration of aquatic ecosystems | |
| Course ID: | ECOL(FISH)(WASR) 4310L/6310L. 1 hour. 4 hours lab per week. |
| Course Title: | Freshwater Ecosystems Lab |
Course
Description: | Students will learn research methods in aquatic ecology including, sampling techniques, water chemistry analysis, experimental design, and data analyses. Students will become familiar with approaches to assess the condition of freshwater systems and will develop written and oral communication skills through laboratory activities. |
| Oasis Title: | Freshwater Ecosystems Lab |
| Prerequisite: | (ECOL 3500 and ECOL 3500L) or (ECOL 3505H and ECOL 3505L) or (FANR 3200W and FANR 3200L) |
Semester Course
Offered: | Offered fall semester every year. |
| Grading System: | A-F (Traditional) |
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| Course Objectives: | This course explores freshwater ecosystems (lakes, streams, wetlands), their biota, physical and chemical properties, and linkages between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. We will also examine how freshwater systems are managed in the U.S. and will consider how they are affected by anthropogenic activities. Students will learn techniques used in aquatic ecological research and aquatic resource management. Lab time will be used to prepare and execute class studies, with corresponding data analysis and presentation of results. |
| Topical Outline: | Introduction to the lab
Basics of experimental design and data analysis
Developing hypotheses and predictions and the class experiment
Experiment: data collection and analysis
Lake ecology and management
Wetland ecology and management
Stream ecology and management
Classification of aquatic organisms and trait-based approaches to assess diversity |
Syllabus: No Syllabus Available
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