Instructor: Siobhan Fennessy
Office/phone/E-mail: Higley 204/5455/fennessym@kenyon.edu
Office Hours: Mon. 1:00-3:00,
Wed. 3:00 ‑ 4:00, Thurs. 9:00 - 11:00, and by appointment
Text: W. K. Dodds,
Freshwater Ecology: Concepts and environmental applications.
Note: Other readings will be assigned as
appropriate.
Reading:
Week of: Topic Chapter
Aug 28 Introduction
to Limnological Concepts 1,
2, 3
Sept 4 Hydrology 4:47-56
Sept 8: Friday Quiz 5
11 Nutrients
in Aquatic Ecosystems I 6
Sept
15: Friday Quiz
18 Nutrients in Aquatic
Ecosystems II 11
Sept 22: Short Response Paper Due
25 Nutrients in Aquatic
Ecosystems III 12
Sept. 29: First Exam 13:247-254,
257-266
17:337-349
Oct 2 Aquatic
Communities: Phytoplankton dynamics 7
Oct
6: Friday Quiz 8:125-136,
144-151
9 Aquatic
Communities: Zooplankton dynamics 9
October Reading days: Oct 9-10
16 Aquatic
Communities: the Biology of Fish 19,
21
Oct.
20: Paper Topics Due
23 Flowing
Waters: River Ecosystems 22:449-
464
Oct 27: Friday Quiz
30 Transitional
Habitats: Wetland Ecosystems 4:56-67
Nov 3: Short Response Paper Due 22:464-472
Nov 6 Transitional
Habitats: Wetland Ecosystems Handouts
Nov 6:
Second exam
Nov 13 Watersheds:
the landscape context Handouts
Nov
13: Complete draft of paper due for peer review
Nov
17: peer review due
20 Thanksgiving
Break
27 Anthropogenic Impacts 14
Dec. 1:
Friday Quiz
Dec 4 Restoration
of Aquatic Ecosystems Handouts
Dec
4: Final Paper Due
11 Wrap
up
Note: The final
examination will be a take home exam, due Dec. 15, 1:30 pm.
Course Overview and Student Responsibilities:
This class is an
introduction to the vast field of freshwater aquatic biology with an emphasis
on the processes operating in freshwater ecosystems. The distributions and interactions of
species, both with their physical environment and with each other will be
investigated. The diversity of
freshwater ecosystems will also be emphasized.
Throughout the class we will consider the influence of the surrounding
landscape on aquatic habitats. We will
also strive to understand the types of perturbations that affect these
ecosystems and apply ecological principles to their solution. To accomplish this, we will read and discuss
original literature. This should provide a forum for lively and
thought-provoking discussion during class time.
All reading assignments must be done prior to class in order to be
prepared for discussion.
Written Assignments:
There are several
writing assignments as follows:
1) a 10 - 12 page
research paper. The topic is your choice
(one that interests you!) but you will need to get approval from me. Your paper should be a critical review of a
topic in the field of aquatic ecology.
As part of this project we will conduct a “double-blind” peer review of
the papers. A detailed handout will be
supplied on this process.
2) two short
responses to supplemental readings. The
readings will be supplied in class.
3) Friday
quizzes. These will be short (10
questions) and will cover the material covered since the last quiz or
exam. These cannot be made-up if
missed. The lowest quiz score will be
dropped before final grades are calculated.
Final Grade Determination:
Exam 1 20%
Exam 2 20%
Final
Exam 20%
Research Paper 20%
(includes grade on peer review)
Short
writing assignments and quizzes 15%
Attendance and participation 5%
Academic Honesty:
Nothing less than
complete academic honesty is expected.
Please review rules and standards for academic honesty as defined in the
Student Handbook.
Policy on Extensions:
Extensions will not
be granted for assignments unless medical problems arise.
Please Note:
If you have a physical, psychological,
medical or learning disability that may impact your ability to carry out
assigned course work, I would urge that you contact the Office of Disability
Services at 5453. The Coordinator of Disability Services, Erin Salva ( will review your concerns and determine, with
you, what accommodations are appropriate. All information and documentation of
disability is confidential.