Aquatic Ecology (BIOL 402)
Aquatic Ecology is the scientific study of plants and animals, and their interactions in all our aquatic environments, including oceans, estuaries, lakes, ponds, wetlands, rivers, and streams.
In this course, you will have the opportunity to explore some of the fundamental concepts in aquatic ecology, experience the process of aquatic research, and interact with aquatic scientist from all aquatic related research areas. This course has a class and laboratory section. Throughout the term, we will explore modern methods used by aquatic ecologists to learn about ecosystems, as well as theories they develop to organize and interpret their results. You will continually be asked to practice thinking like an aquatic ecologist by learning to recognize aquatic ecological themes, and by questioning scientific literature that we encounter in our scientific life. Learning will be evaluated based on a combination of individual and collaborative assignments and exams, and mini-writing assignments including a peer review component. Join us in studying the most fascinating subject matter ever: aquatic ecosystem ecology.
Course-Level Goals
The overall aim for this course is to help you become good scientists. That is a combination of skills and critical thinking, and those are honed through practice and feedback. So, I want you to argue, constructively criticize, praise, question and explore. In this course, it’s ok to not know the answer at any given moment; but if you don’t know something you should know, then I want you to learn it and report back. That’s how science actually works.
I designed this course with specific goals in mind. If you are willing and able to meet the requirements, by the end of this course, you will be able to:
Syllabus
In this course, you will have the opportunity to explore some of the fundamental concepts in aquatic ecology, experience the process of aquatic research, and interact with aquatic scientist from all aquatic related research areas. This course has a class and laboratory section. Throughout the term, we will explore modern methods used by aquatic ecologists to learn about ecosystems, as well as theories they develop to organize and interpret their results. You will continually be asked to practice thinking like an aquatic ecologist by learning to recognize aquatic ecological themes, and by questioning scientific literature that we encounter in our scientific life. Learning will be evaluated based on a combination of individual and collaborative assignments and exams, and mini-writing assignments including a peer review component. Join us in studying the most fascinating subject matter ever: aquatic ecosystem ecology.
Course-Level Goals
The overall aim for this course is to help you become good scientists. That is a combination of skills and critical thinking, and those are honed through practice and feedback. So, I want you to argue, constructively criticize, praise, question and explore. In this course, it’s ok to not know the answer at any given moment; but if you don’t know something you should know, then I want you to learn it and report back. That’s how science actually works.
I designed this course with specific goals in mind. If you are willing and able to meet the requirements, by the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Understand fundamental principles of ecology, evolution and ecosystem function in terms of life in aquatic systems.
- Develop a research project using fundamental principles of ecology and pilot data.
- Learn how to collect and process samples for a suite of abiotic and biotic factors, including biodiversity, and how to critically assess and interpret the data from those samples.
- Choose and implement appropriate statistical analyses.
- Practice and develop communication skills, including oral and written skills.
Syllabus