Aquatic Ecology

ENVS 330.501 ENVS 530.501

Spring Term 2016 Room PISB 107
Dr. Susan S. Kilham
Objectives of the course:
To provide an overview of the historical roots, the origin of lakes.
To give a framework of the physical and chemical structure of lakes.
To introduce major ecological concepts that govern the distributions,
abundance, and interactions of freshwater plants and animals.
To provide opportunities to investigate aquatic habitats directly.
Date
March 30

April 6

Topic
Introduction/History
Origin of Lakes
Morphometry/Water balance
Temperature, Light, Movement

April 13

Principle dissolved salts

O2, CO2, pH

April 20

Nutrient ions

April 27

Bacteria
Rooted Aquatics
Phytoplankton Survey

May 4

EXAM

May 11

Phytoplankton (continued)
Nutrition
Ecology
Primary Productivity

May 18

Benthic communities
Zooplankton Survey

May 25

Zooplankton Grazing
Predation/Competition
Cyclomorphosis

June 1

Food Webs/Energetics
Cultural Eutrophication
Special topics

FINAL EXAM June 8, 6-8 pm

COURSE FORMAT
Lectures are one 3-hour lecture each week. Exams are in-class. I do
not take attendance. Lecture notes are posted on BB Learn. I
welcome questions during class.
Course Purpose within the Program of Study:
This is an elective course that is intended to introduce students to key concepts in aquatic
science, to help students to integrate information theyve learned in previous chemistry
and biology courses, and to provide further opportunities to hone oral and written
communication skills through course presentations and paper evaluations.
Statement of Expected Learning:
As a result of this course, students will:
Understand the fundamentals of aquatic ecology

Integrate concepts from this course with content from their other courses in the
sciences to apply course knowledge to real world problems in the aquatic
environment
Begin to understand the variety of aquatic environments and biodiversity
Be more interested in learning about aquatic science that they hear about in their
everyday life, and be inspired to delve deeper to learn more about these topics
Identify resources to learn more about aquatic ecology, including accessing
primary research articles.

TEXT
No text is required. Some recommended ones are: Stanley
Dodson, Introduction to Limnology. McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-287935-1
(ca. $95). For those who will need this subject professionally, I
recommend Robert Wetzel. Limnology 3rd ed. (ISBN 0-12-7447601). It is available from Harcourt, Inc. 6277 Sea Harbor Dr., Orlando FL
32887 (800-544-6678) at ca. $75. Two other alternatives are
primarily biological in content: Limnoecology: The Ecology of Lakes
and Streams. W. Lampert and U. Sommer. Oxford University Press.
1997. ISBN: 0-19-509592-8 (pbk ca. $45) or The Biology of Lakes and
Ponds by C. Brnmark and L. Hansson, Oxford University Press.
1998. ISBN: 0-19-854971-7 (pbk. ca. $40).
FIELD TRIP
May 7-May 8: Weekend overnight trip to Lake Lacawac, PA
(7:30am Sat- 4pmSun)
This field trip is highly recommended! It will introduce you to the
organisms in various lake/pond habitats. Field trip report is required;
alternative assignments will be arranged if you are unable to go on the
field trip.

Field trip report should include: description of environment, weather,

organisms (including Phylum of each, and scientific name when
possible), habitats where organisms were found, any physical/chemical
measurements, and a discussion of your observations.
Substitutions for those not going on field trip: 3 critique papers in
place of two-day trip. These should be on PRIMARY RESEARCH
ARTICLES published in the past 12 months. Papers should be 2-3
pages and include the major ideas/questions being tested, the
approach used, the major findings, and YOUR EVALUATION. You may
choose papers from the following journals: Limnology &
Oceanography, Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science,
Freshwater Biology, Ecology (freshwater papers ONLY), Water
Research (related to topics in this course), Journal of Great Lakes
Research, Freshwater Ecology. Other sources are possible WITH MY
PERMISSION. Include the article with your critique.
ADOPT-A-LAKE
Each student will choose a lake or river to investigate, using web and
journal resources. You will give a 10 minute talk to the class about
your lake and provide a 1 page handout.
GRADING
Total points = 275.
Exams = 100 points each. Exams generally cover the material in the
preceding five lectures. I give NO make-up exams and NO
incompletes.
Adopt-a-lake: 25 points
Field trip reports = 50 points for two-day trip (or the substitution).
Graduate students are held to a higher standard in the reports or
critiques.
I do not tolerate cheating. You will receive an F in the course and for
graduate students I will do everything I can to have you terminated
from the university.
ACCESS
Kilham'sOffice323PISB;phone:2158952628kilhams@drexel.eduIamalways
availableforonehourbeforetheclass,immediatelyafterthelectureandotherwiseby
arrangement.Donthesitatetocontactme.
ClassPolicies:
Turnallcellphonesoffortovibrateduringclass.
Allworkmustbeyourown.Academicdishonesty(cheating,plagiarism,etc.)
willNOTBETOLERATED.Ifcaught,youwillreceiveanFforthecourse
andwillbereferredtotheOfficeofJudicialAffairs(undergraduates)orthe
GraduateCommitteeofyourDepartment(graduates).Pleasereviewthe
Universitypoliciesonacademicdishonestyat:

www.drexel.edu/provost/policies/academic_dishonesty.asp,and
http://drexel.edu/studentlife/judicial/honesty.html.
Studentswithdisabilitiesrequestingaccommodationsneedtopresentacurrent
accommodationverificationletter(AVL)totheProfessorbeforeaccommodations
canbemade.AVLsareissuedbytheOfficeofDisabilityServices(ODS).The
ODScanbecontactedat:www.drexel.edu/ods,byphoneat2158951401,or
TTYat2158952299.
Youareresponsibleforallmaterialsinclass,includinginclassannouncements.Exams
willbeprimarilyfromlectures.
Makeupexamsaregivenonlyunderextreme,preexcusedcircumstances.
Anylateassignmentswilllose5points/day.Contactmebeforehandifaproblemarises.
Pleaseseemeinatimelyfashionifyouarehavinganyproblemswiththecourse.