Course Description
Exploration of freshwater ecosystems (lakes, streams, wetlands), their biota, physical and chemical properties, and linkages between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Participation in seminar-style discussion in which original literature is read and discussed. Longer term paper required.
Athena 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
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
Syllabus