University of Mississippi, Department of Biology, BISC321, Introduction to Aquatic Biology

Biology 321 -- Introduction to Aquatic Biology -- Fall 2008

Dr. Stephen Threlkeld, Professor of Biology; 328 Shoemaker; 662-915-5803; stt@olemiss.edu; Office hours: M 11:30-1:00, W 11-12:30, Th 11-12, or by appointment.

Catalog Description of Course Objectives Principles of freshwater biology with emphasis on factors affecting ecology and populations in diverse aquatic environments.

Teaching assistant Jim Weston, 320 Shoemaker; jweston@olemiss.edu; Office hours: M 8-9, Tu 9:30-11:30, Th 9-11, or by appointment.

Required course readings Moss, Brian. 1998. Ecology of Fresh Waters: Man & medium, past to future. 3rd edition. Blackwell Scientific; McPhee, John. 2002. The Founding Fish. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux; and other readings as assigned.

Course grading Grades will be based on up to 5 pop quizzes (5%), a glossary (10%), a midterm exam (25%), laboratory participation and reports (25%), and a final comprehensive examination (35%). Your grade will be the better of two grades determined on the following scales: Scale 1: A, > 90%; B, 80-89%; C, 70-79%; D, 60-69%; F, < 60%; Scale 2: A, > 1.5 standard deviations above the mean; B, from 0.5 to 1.5 standard deviations above the mean; C, +/- 0.5 standard deviations from the mean; D, from 0.5 to 1.5 standard deviations below the mean; F, > 1.5 standard deviations below the mean.

Make-up exams A single comprehensive make-up essay exam will be given immediately after the final exam for anyone who missed the midterm exam for any reason. None of the laboratories can be made up, and there will be no make-ups given for missed pop quizzes).

Schedule of lectures (MW, 9-10 am, 323 Shoemaker) and laboratories (Tu or Th, 1-4 pm, 429 Shoemaker or at other designated locations); lecture and lab notes and handouts are available on blackboard

25 Aug Introduction; course objectives and requirements
26/28 Aug Lab 1: Hypothesis testing -- thermal stratification in standing waters
27 Aug Physical characteristics of water and constraints on life (Ch.2)
1 Sep Labor Day Holiday -- No class today
2/4 Sep Lab 2: Scientific report writing
3 Sep Chemisty of upland streams and origins of water quality (Ch.3)
8 Sep Chemistry of upland streams and origins of water quality
9/11 Sep Lab 3: Stream environments
10 Sep Chemisty of upland streams and origins of water quality (continued)
15 Sep Human activity and water quality (Ch. 4)
16/18 Sep Lab 4: Data analysis -- hydrological variation from cypress tree rings
17 Sep Streams and rivers -- a physical description
22 Sep Biota of upland and lowland rivers, floodplains, swamps and wetlands (Ch. 5)
23/25 Sep Lab 5: Reservoirs
24 Sep Reservoirs: upstream and downstream effects
29 Sep Reservoirs: life in river-lake hybrids
30 Sep/1 Oct Lab 6: Newspaper reports on reservoirs
2 Oct Productivity in standing waters (Ch. 6)
6 Oct Productivity in standing waters, continued
7/9 Oct Lab 7: Discussion of John McPhee's book The Founding Fish
8 Oct Grazing and nutrient regeneration
13 Oct Eutrophication
14/16 Oct Lab 8: Midterm practice exam and study session
15 Oct Eutrophication, continued
20 Oct Acidification
21/23 Oct Lab 9: Setup of food web experiment
22 Oct Midterm exam
27 Oct Community structure: body-size mediated interactions (Ch. 7)
28/30 Oct Lab 10: Fish-Benthos-Plankton
29 Oct Community structure: species diversity and food webs
3 Nov Community structure, continued
4/6 Nov Lab 11: Fish-Benthos-Plankton
5 Nov Benthic-pelagic interactions
10 Nov Freshwater fishes(Chs. 8 & 9)
11/13 Nov Lab 12: Water and Sewage Treatment
12 Nov Fish production and freshwater fisheries
17 Nov Biomanipulation for fisheries and water quality
18/20 Nov Lab 13: Newspaper accounts of water or sewage treatment
19 Nov Paleolimnology and the history of lakes (Ch. 10)
24-28 Nov Thanksgiving holidays
1 Dec Aquatic biogeography and exotic species
2/4 Dec Lab 14: Debate on Issues in Aquatic Ecology
3 Dec Climate change and the future of aquatic habitats (Ch. 11)
10 Dec Final examination, 8 a.m., Wednesday