Introduction

to Aquatic Ecology
The University of Toledo
Department of Environmental Sciences & The Lake Erie Center
EEES 2980

Instructor: Dr. Douglas D. Kane Term: Summer 2015
Email: dkane@defiance.edu Class Location: Lake Erie Center
Office Hours: By Appointment Class Day/Time: June 15-19, 2015, 9:30AM- 5PM
Office Location: Lake Erie Center Credit Hours: 2 Credit Hours
COURSE/CATALOG DESCRIPTION
Ecology of inland waters, with emphasis on the Maumee River watershed and the western basin of Lake
Erie. The course will include the processes that occur in these waters and the impacts they have.
COURSE OVERVIEW
Aquatic ecology is the study of inland waters. It is an interdisciplinary science that integrates the study of
geological, physical, chemical, and biological processes in these waters. During this course students will
investigate the aquatic communities and ecosystem processes that occur in lakes, rivers, and ponds. The
effects of invasive species and cultural eutrophication will also be investigated.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
Students will:
1. Gain an appreciation for the multidisciplinary nature of aquatic ecology, and the many natural factors
and human activities influencing aquatic habitats.
2. Better understand the complexities of aquatic community structure and aquatic ecosystem function.
3. Be introduced to standard aquatic ecology techniques to sample and analyze physical, chemical and
biological parameters in the field.
4. Gain knowledge on taxonomy, classification and identification of aquatic organisms.
TEACHING STRATEGIES
Although a number of lectures will be presented, this course will mostly be an intensive, hands-on
participatory field course. Participation is required and graded (see below). Further, cooperative group
work will be an essential component of the field work and the invasive species presentation.
PREREQUISITES AND COREQUISITES
High school biology or College Biology, Environmental Science or Ecology course, or permission of
instructor.
REQUIRED TEXTS AND ANCILLARY MATERIALS
The Biology of Lakes and Ponds. 2005. Christer Bronmark and Lars-Anders Hansson. ISBN: 0-19-851613-
4. Oxford University Press.
Write-in-the-Rain Field Notebook
Bathing Suit and Wading Shoes

TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS
None.

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Syllabus Development Resources: Template/December 10, 2014
Office of the Provost/University Teaching Center/
Office of Assessment, Accreditation and Program Review


UNIVERSITY POLICIES
Policy Statement on Non-Discrimination on the basis of Disability (ADA)
The University is an equal opportunity educational institution. Please read The Universitys Policy
Statement on Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability Americans with Disability Act Compliance.

Academic Accommodations
The University of Toledo is committed to providing equal access to education for all students. If you have a
documented disability or you believe you have a disability and would like information regarding academic
accommodations/adjustments in this course please contact the Student Disability Services Office.
ACADEMIC POLICIES
Late Assignments
A 10% penalty per day (including weekends) will be assessed to all late assignments.
Class Attendance Policy
Because this course is an intensive, weeklong course absences (other than due to legitimate emergency)
will not be allowed. Makeup quizzes and tests will only be given for extreme (i.e. family death, health
issues) cases and will require documentation (i.e. doctors note etc.). Finally, I will assign your
attendance/participation points based on overall attendance/participation. I will not take daily
attendance, nor mark down each time you say something, but rather look at your attendance/
participation in a holistic manner. Please also try to be on time for lecture and laboratory.
Cell Phones/ Texting
Texting/cell phone use during class (unless okayed) is a distraction to other students and thus is
prohibited.
Statement on extenuating circumstances
Components of this course may change due to extenuating circumstances or learner needs. When and if
that happens, those changes will not jeopardize the student in terms of requirements or time to
complete assignments.
GRADING

3 Quizzes (25 points each)- 75
Midterm Grading
Field Notebook- 50
As this is a one-week class, midterm grades will not
Group Presentation on Invasive
be calculated.
Species found in Lake Erie- 50
Lab Practical- 100 Final Grading
93 & up- A 90-93% - A-
Written Exam- 100
87-90% - B+ 83-87% - B 80-83% - B-
Participation- 25 77-80% - C+ 73-77% - C 70-73% - C-
67-70% - D+ 60-67% - D 0-60% - E
Total COMMUNICATION GUIDELINES 500
Students are welcome to email me but may not get an immediate reply due to the intensive nature of the class.

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

Relevant UT support services:
University Libraries: http://www.utoledo.edu/library/
Learning Enhancement Center: http://www.utoledo.edu/success/lec/
Writing Center: http://www.utoledo.edu/success/writingcenter/index.html

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Syllabus Development Resources: Template/December 10, 2014
Office of the Provost/University Teaching Center/
Office of Assessment, Accreditation and Program Review


Success Coaches: http://www.utoledo.edu/successcoach/index.html
Counseling Center: http://www.utoledo.edu/studentaffairs/counseling/

COURSE SCHEDULE
Note: Morning sessions will last from 9:30AM - 12:30ish, afternoon sessions will last from 1PM - 5PMish.

Monday Morning: Course Introduction (0.5 hr)
Lecture: Lake and River Formation (1 hr)
Lab: Formation of the Great Lakes video (1 hr)
Lecture: Properties of Water (1 hr)
Afternoon: Lab: Lake Erie Sampling (Western Basin) (2 hr)
Lecture: Water Movements (1 hr)
Lecture: Water and Light and Heat (1 hr)
Lecture: Water Chemistry (1 hr)
Presentations: work on in groups (1 hr)

Tuesday Morning: Lecture: Phytoplankton (1 hr)
Lecture: Zooplankton (1 hr)
Lab: Plankton Identification (2 hrs)
Afternoon: Lecture: Macroinvertebrates (1 hr)
Lecture: Aquatic Macrophytes and Ponds (1 hr)
Lab: Pond Sampling and Identification (2 hr)
Quiz (0.5 hr)
Presentations: work on in groups (1 hr)

Wednesday Morning: Lecture: Fish Biology and Ecology (1 hr)
Lecture: Rivers (1 hr)
Lab: Lake Erie Trawling (near and into Maumee Bay) (2 hr)
Afternoon: Lab: Maumee River Sampling and Identification (Weir Rapids and
Farnsworth Metropark) (3 hr)
Quiz (0.5 hr)
Presentations: work on in groups (1 hr)

Thursday Morning: Lab: Maumee River Sampling & ID (Independence Dam & Antwerp) (4 hr)
(early meeting- 8 AM)
Afternoon: Lab: Maumee River Sampling (New Haven and Ft. Wayne) (3 hr)
Lecture: Invasive Species (1 hr)
Lecture: Eutrophication (1 hr)
Quiz (0.5 hr)
Presentations: work on in groups (1 hr)

Friday Morning: Presentations (2 hr)
Review (1 hr as a class. 1 hr on own)
Afternoon: Practical (1 hr)
Written (2 hr)

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Syllabus Development Resources: Template/December 10, 2014
Office of the Provost/University Teaching Center/
Office of Assessment, Accreditation and Program Review