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.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will be asked to complete an additional writing and synthesis assignment.
Athena 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
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will have a greater understanding of the ecological structure and function of freshwater ecosystems. We will accomplish this goal by studying the basic physics, chemistry, and biology of freshwater ecosystems through a lens of systems ecology.
- Students will be able to identify and describe current threats to freshwater ecosystems. We will accomplish this goal by using the assigned readings, lectures, activities, and discussions to study the ways in which freshwater ecosystems can become degraded.
- Students will be able to read, understand, and apply information presented in peer-reviewed literature. When finished with the course, you should be confident in reading primary literature, understanding the information presented therein, and applying scientific findings to answer new questions about freshwater ecosystems.
Topical Outline
- Unit 1: Systems Thinking and Ecosystem Ecology
-Properties of Water;
-Oxygen & Water Chemistry;
-Wetland Ecology;
-Carbon Cycling;
-Nutrient Cycling;
-Fungi, Bacteria and Producers;
-Nutrient Limitation & Stoichiometry;
-Stream and River Hydrology
- Unit 2: Food Webs and Energy Flow in Freshwater Systems
-Lake Basics;
-Stratification & Seasonality;
-Grazers & Grazed;
-Invertebrate Predators; Fish & Food Webs;
-Carbon in Lake Food Webs;
-Parasites in Food Webs;
-Stream Food Webs;
-Freshwater Community Ecology
- Unit 3: Human Activities and Environmental Change in Freshwaters
-Freshwater Biodiversity;
-Eutrophication;
-Climate Change;
-Water and Human Disease;
-Urbanization and Stream Ecology
- Unit 4: Conserving Freshwater Systems for the Future
-Global Freshwater Conflicts;
-Positive Seeds of the Anthropocene;
-Science Communication;
-Documenting Nature;
-Human-Altered Freshwater Subsidies
Institutional Competencies
Analytical Thinking
The ability to reason, interpret, analyze, and solve problems from a wide array of authentic contexts.
Critical Thinking
The ability to pursue and comprehensively evaluate information before accepting or establishing a conclusion, decision, or action.
Social Awareness & Responsibility
The capacity to understand the interdependence of people, communities, and self in a global society.
