Fall 2006

Syllabus

1.  A course in chemistry and biology; or consent of instructor. 

2.  Interest in and desire to learn more about aquatic systems!

Wetzel, Robert G.  2001.  Limnology - Lake and River Ecosystems, 3nd edition, Academic Press, San Diego.

Jones, William W.  2006.  Laboratory Manual for Limnology.  (available at TIS Bookstore.)

Needham, J.G. and P.R. Needham.  1989.  A Guide to the Study of Fresh-Water Biology

Performance in the course will be evaluated based upon the following:

lab practical exams (3) - 10% each;                  30% total

lab reports (2) - 10% on 1st, 20% on 2nd;         30% total

lab attendance/demonstrated competence           +/- 5%

exams (2) - 20% each;                                      40% total 

                                                                       100 %

Laboratory attendance is mandatory!  Unexcused lab absences or obvious lack of preparation for labs will result in up to -5% penalty.  Superior lab performance could gain a student up to +5%.  Late class assignments will be down graded 10 points for each day past the due date.  No make-up examinations will be given in this course!  Should you have an unexcused absence from an exam, your grade will be zero.  Consult the Indiana University Academic Handbook for a description of the few circumstances for which incompletes or excused absences from tests are appropriate.  The Academic Handbook also explains the Indiana University policy regarding academic dishonesty.

Your responsibilities are to attend all the lectures and labs, ask questions, prepare ahead for laboratories, participate actively in your lab group, complete assignments on time, and express yourself creatively and concisely in your work.  We will do our best to be clear, organized and fair.

1.   Introduction/Watershed

2.   Lake basin morphology

3.   Fate of light and heat

4.   Lake circulation patterns

5.   Photosynthesis/respiration in lakes

6.  Plankton taxonomy & biology

7.  Oxygen dynamics in lakes

8.  Phosphorus dynamics in lakes

9.  Nitrogen dynamics in lakes

10. Inorganic carbon cycling in lakes  

11.  Watershed influences on nutrient dynamics

12.  Stream ecosystems

13.  Lake genesis

14.  Paleolimnology

15.  Review for exam 1

16.  Exam #1

17.  Cycling of iron and sulfur

18.  Discussion of exam 1/cycles

19.  Phytoplankton biol. & dynamics

20. Zooplankton biol. & dynamics

21.  Ecology of plankton in lakes

22. The fishes  

23.  Plankton dynamics (cont)

24.  Community Ecology

25.  Littoral communities

26. Thanksgiving break

27. Macrophyte biology

28. Cycling of organic matter

29. Whole lake experiments

30. Review for final exam   

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This page was last modified September 11, 2006
joneswi@indiana.edu