SEPTEMBER SYLLABUS UPDATE              

 

Aquatic Systems Biology,  Biology 352                                                                       2006

 

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.