This unique course will introduce students to the current 
condition of aquatic environments and biota.  Relative changes 
in aquatic diversity from mountain streams to estuaries will 
link processes from the rivers to seas.  After introducing 
students to general groups of aquatic biota, we will focus on 
biota and conditions in impaired systems. Student 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 aquatic monitoring research 
techniques and taxonomy of plants, algae, and invertebrates.  
They will be able to gain experience monitoring various aspects 
of watershed disturbance, water quality, and hydrologic 
alterations through field trips to regional aquatic 
environments, including streams, ponds, reservoirs, and 
estuaries.

1.	The state of the world's aquatic environments
1.1.	Distribution of world's aquatic habitats (GIS overview)
1.2.	Water as a limiting resource
1.3.	Need for monitoring aquatic environments
1.4.	Southeastern US—detention/farm ponds, reservoirs and
impounded rivers
1.5.	Watershed changes and aquatic impairment

2.	Anthropogenic impacts in aquatic systems
2.1.	Water as a medium for life
2.2.	Ecological grouping of aquatic organisms
2.3.	Regulation of biodiversity (community structure)
2.4.	Biota in impaired systems
2.4.1.	Plankton as bioindicators
2.4.2.	Aquatic biota as bioindicators
2.5.	Disruptions of aquatic life cycles
2.5.1.	Feeding
2.5.2.	Breeding
2.5.3.	Migration

3.	Principles of aquatic environmental monitoring
3.1.	Define the spatial and temporal population of interest
3.2.	Upstream vs. Downstream
3.3.	Temporal variation in parameters
3.4.	Long-term trends in water quality
3.5.	Translocation and transformation 

4.	Human impacts and management of rivers
4.1.	Landscape development impacts on mountain streams
4.2.	Sources of endangerment for aquatic organisms in 
mountain streams
4.3.	Urbanization and legacy sediments in piedmont rivers
4.4.	Industrial impacts on creeks and rivers
4.5.	Emerging contaminant impacts on aquatic biota
4.6.	Aquatic organisms as indicators of impairment

5.	Current issues in management of small impoundments
5.1.	Small impoundments as sources/sinks for sediment
nutrients/contaminants
5.2.	Fishkills in suburban and golf course ponds
5.3.	Wildlife and livestock deaths in agricultural ponds
5.4.	Detention ponds used for treat effluent storage
5.5.	Invasive plants and impairment of water supply 
reservoirs
5.6.	Eutrophication and toxic cyanoHABs

6.	Current Issues in Reservoir Management
6.1.	Hydrologic environment
6.2.	Community succession with reservoir aging
6.3.	Reservoir impacts on downstream rivers/estuaries
6.4.	Complex interaction of reservoirs in series
6.5.	Invasive aquatic species impacts
6.6.	Dam removal benefits and costs

7.	Aquatic plant management 
7.1.	Invasive/native aquatic plant taxonomy
7.2.	Structuring effects of aquatic plants
7.2.1.	Waterbird migration and aquatic plants
7.2.2.	Fisheries and native/invasive plants
7.3.	Plant removal and re-vegetation challenges

8.	Coastal management concerns
8.1.	Coastal development pressures 
8.2.	Tidal creeks as sentinels for human impacts
8.3.	Exploitation of coastal fisheries
8.4.	Nutrient pollution/HABs/dead zones

9.	Future of water resources
9.1.	Case studies in climate change impacts on aquatic 
ecosystems
9.1.1.	Temporal changes in aquatic biota
9.1.2.	Coastal river/estuarine salinity shifts
9.2.	Degradation of aquatic ecosystems and ecological 
services

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.