Aquatic
Ecology
Field Trips: There is no lab for the
course. However, students will have the
opportunity to attend a field trip. I
will lead 3-4 field trips (dates TBA), and you must attend at least one of
them. A field trip report must be
written for just one of the field trips – even of you attend more than one.
Sept.
15-16: Rocky
Sept. 22: Mile High Wetland Bank, 10 am-noonish.
Oct.
2: Metro Wastewater Reclamation District:
2:30-5:00.
Oct.
27: Argo Tunnel/Acid
Mine Drainage: leave campus at 2:15pm or
meet at Idaho Springs at 3:00pm. We will
meet at the loading zone between North Classroom and
Time/Location: Tuesday and Thursday, 2:30-3:45,
Instructor: Greg Cronin, North Classroom 3016B, 556-6036, gcronin@carbon.cudenver.edu
Office hours: 12:00-2:00 Tuesday and Thursday, or by appointment
Complementary readings will come from the primary and secondary scientific
literature, to be announced at least 1 week before class.
Laboratory exercises: There is no formal, set lab meeting for this course. However, we will use software called EcoBeaker during lectures to conduct "virtual experiments", have the opportunity to conduct some experiments (which will require some work outside of class time), and each student will be required to participate in a field trip.
Course web page: http://carbon.cudenver.edu/~gcronin/4416index.htm (check this web page for announcements, updated class schedule, lecture notes, and information about field trips)
Prerequisites: Ecology
Tentative class schedule (topics may change during course of the semester. Check the web page for updated syllabus, as I try to save trees by not printing new hardcopies every time a change is made)
PowerPoint handout available online in PDF format!!! Because I frequently make last minute
changes, these presentations will usually be available 1 day before
lecture. The pdf handouts do not contain
the entire lecture, as photographs and figures from the text are usually not
included in order to save disk space and download times. To access the PDF files, you need Adobe Reader
and to just click on the lecture date.
The handouts are used as an aid.
They are not a replacement for reading the material, attending lectures,
and taking notes. I provide them as a
courtesy to help you take notes, so please do not complain about missing or
blurry slides. Appreciate what is
provided.
|
Target date |
Topic |
Reading |
|
Aug. 22 |
syllabus |
|
|
Why study water? water water everywhere; importance and properties |
Dodds |
|
|
Aug. 29 |
Properties of water |
Dodds |
|
Movement of light, heat, and chemicals |
Dodds Ch. 3; optional Cronin and Lodge |
|
|
Hydrology and physiography |
|
|
|
Hydrology and physiography cont. (field trip to confluence park) |
|
|
|
Sept. 12 |
Hydrology and physiography of streams |
|
|
Sept. 14 |
Exam 1 |
|
|
Sept. 19 |
|
Video |
|
Physiography of Lakes and Reservoirs |
Dodds Ch. 6 |
|
|
Turning streams into lakes: do reservoirs = lakes? term paper outline due (grads only) |
USGS publication, 5 copies are on reserve at Auraria Library, read Intro, South Platte, Green River, Colorado River, and Role of Science. click link to online version |
|
|
Sept. 28 |
Turning streams into lakes: do reservoirs = lakes? |
Cadillac Desert video excerpts; optional news story |
|
Types of aquatic organisms |
Dodds Ch. 7 |
|
|
Microbes and plants |
Dodds Ch. 8 |
|
|
Animals |
Dodds Ch. 9 |
|
|
Oct. 12 |
Exam 2 |
|
|
Carbon |
Dodds Ch. 12 |
|
|
Nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, and other nutrients |
Dodds Ch. 13 |
|
|
Trophic State and Eutrophication |
Dodds |
|
|
Predation and food webs |
Dodds Ch. 19 |
|
|
Nutrient use and remineralization |
Dodds |
|
|
Biodiversity |
Dodds |
|
|
Nov. 7 |
Exam 3 |
|
|
Behavior and interactions among microorganisms and invertebrates; Carol’s Presentation |
Dodds |
|
|
Effects of toxins on aquatic ecosystems; Tanya’s Presentation |
Dodds |
|
|
Nonpredatory interspecific interactions, field trip report due |
Dodds |
|
|
Nov. 20-26 |
Fall Break |
|
|
Freshwater ecosystems Grad term paper due |
Dodds |
|
|
Nov. 30 |
Exam 4 |
|
|
Dec. 5 |
|
|
|
Dec. 7 |
Review for final |
|
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Dec. 14 |
Comprehensive Final Exam, 2:30-4:30 |
|
Overview: Aquatic Ecology is a course for Biology majors, graduate students of Biology and Environmental Sciences, and others seeking an advanced ecology course concentrating on freshwater ecosystems (streams, wetlands, lakes, reservoirs, and groundwater). The success of this small class will depend on active involvement of each student. Preparation before class is important so that students can ask informed questions, provide opinions, and follow lectures.
The information contained in the course is important for anybody who wants to understand how they influence, and are influenced by, their surroundings. Many critical issues relating to today's environmental health are based on the science of ecology: people have basic needs such as clean water, adequate food, and shelter just as do other organisms that inhabit this finite planet. Numerous species and human society depends on healthy aquatic ecosystems. Growing pressure on water resources (e.g., Denver imports more than half its water from west of the Continental Divide) demands a greater understanding and appreciation for these ecosystems.
Grading: Grades are based on a field trip report (10%, due Nov. 16), 3 midterm exams (60%), and a comprehensive final (30%). Graduate students will also be required to write or present a term paper (due November 28, guidelines), which will be worth 20% of the final grade, which means the grade allocation in the previous sentence will be proportionately adjusted (i.e., 8, 48, 24% respectively). Four midterm exams will be administered, but I will drop the lowest score when calculating final grades. No make up exams will be given. Please do not ask!!!! The 1 "free" exam will count for any missed midterm exam. I do not curve because I want to set the standard for the course. As a result, it is possible for 100% of the students to get A's. The course grade is multiplied by a factor of zero (i.e., you will receive an F for the course) for any violation of the University code of ethics (see the university handbook for specific codes).
|
90-100% |
A |
|
73-76.99% |
C |
|
|
|
|
70-72.99% |
C- |
|
87-89.99% |
B+ |
|
67-69.99% |
D+ |
|
83-86.99% |
B |
|
63-66.99% |
D |
|
80-82.99% |
B- |
|
60-62.99% |
D- |
|
77-79.99% |
C+ |
|
<60% |
F |
Late homework: Homework grades will be lowered 5% per calendar day it is late.
Exams: Exam questions will include short answers, definitions, and essays. Very few “scantron” type questions will be used.
Exams will ONLY be given either during normal class period. If you miss an exam, that will simply be the exam that gets dropped when calculating final grades. Make up exams will NOT be given, either before or after the scheduled date. Please don't ask for a make up, even if you think your reason for deserving a make-up is better than everybody else’s reason. View the drop exam policy as a gift – please do not ask me for an additional gift. Don’t blow off the first exam, thinking it will be the score that you will drop unless you are absolutely certain that you will not get sick, miss a flight, become a parent, or attend a funeral during subsequent exams. In the rare event that you miss 2 exams, an oral make-up exam will be given only in the case of an excused absence, such as illness.
How to do well on exams:
Re-grades: If you have a problem or concern with grading, please state your problem in writing within 1 week of exams being returned and give the letter to me along with your unaltered exam. Short answer and essay questions must be written in ink to be considered for a re-grade. In an attempt to provide as accurate a grade as possible, I reserve the right to re-grade any and all questions returned for re-grading.
Criteria for Grading Reports and Papers:
A. Organization: ___________ 30% of total
Should include an introduction, ordered discussion of specific topics, and a summary.
o Introduction (what I did, why it's important) ___________ (10)
o Guidelines adhered to (page limits, page numbers, spacing, font) ___________(10)
o Summary (take home message of what was just shared) _________(10)
B. Content: ____________ 40% of total
It should be informative, complete, accurate, and thoroughly discussed. You should include information about how it relates to aquatic ecology.
o Well-researched/complete? ___________ (20)
o Is the information relevant to aquatic ecology? ___________ (10)
o Is the information accurate? ___________ (10)
C. Presentation: _________ 30% of total
Material should be presented in a clear manner that properly stresses important points about the topic. A clear voice/writing and visual aids enhance the presentation of materials.
o Well-written paragraph and sentence structure ___________ (10)
o Proper grammar and spelling ________ (10)
o Visual Aids (figures, tables, and pictures… with captions!) ___________ (10)
Snow days, instructor illness, exams, and coursework: If class is cancelled because the campus is closed or because the instructor is ill and there is an exam or coursework due that day, the exam or coursework will automatically be rescheduled for the next regular class meeting.
Field trip: Each student MUST participate in at least one field trip. Definite dates for the field trips have not been scheduled, but trips will likely include a trip to a Water Reclamation District (i.e., sewage treatment plant), Ocean Journey, and/or Rocky Mountain Hydrologic Research Center. These will likely be offered on a variety of days to accommodate student schedules. Students also have the option of performing activities on there own, and writing them up for their “self-guided” field trip.
A 2-3 page sides of text, double-spaced, 12-pt. typed report will be written about the field trip experience. I inch margins on all sides. Number all pages, and adhere to the page limits – you can go over the page limits if you want to add figures. It should detail what you did, why you did it, what you observed, and how your observations relate to aquatic ecology. It should have figures with captions that complement the text – figures do not count as part of the 2-3 page limit. Poor spelling or grammar is frowned upon and will be reflected in grading. Click here for a valuable resource that describes how to write an essay The links to the sample reports were deleted, and I don’t have reports to replace them. Sorry, but you can always use the Quammen papers as great examples of an essay. The report is due on Nov. 16, 2006.
Students with special needs: If you have special needs with any
component of the course, please notify me in writing during the first 2 weeks
of class so arrangements can be made to accommodate you. I can't help you if I
am not made aware.
All students: I am always interested in meeting with students about
coursework, career counseling, or to discuss problems associated with class or
otherwise. It is usually better seek advice early to allow time to plan for the
future, or to nip a problem in the bud. Feel free to contact me during office
hours, by making an appointment, or by stopping by my office (if I'm not
extremely busy with something else).
Classroom rules: I encourage students to discuss topics and ask questions
during lectures. If this causes lectures to run over, we can simply continue
where we leave off during the following class meeting. However, discussion not
related to class topics (e.g., scheduling conflicts, re-grades, career
counseling) should be reserved for office-hours. If you arrive late, pick up
any handouts and quietly take a seat, but do not make a habit of arriving late.
Synchronize watches now. If you skip or
miss class, get notes from a fellow classmate.
Don’t complain to me when YOU miss material because YOU missed
class. I will not repeat a lecture for
students that miss class. There simply
are not enough hours in the day. Turn
off any electronic device that might make a noise (e.g., cell phones, watch
alarms, pagers). Don’t pass notes or carry out extraneous conversations during
class. I do not mind if you have food or
drink as long as you recycle or discard the packaging.
During exams, you can only use a pen, pencil, and the paper I give you to answer the questions (and your brain and body, of course). I have had issues with cheaters in the past, and because of this, the following policies were created.
1. DO NOT sit next to a person that is a study partner. Being a study partner is not an acceptable excuse for sharing similar wrong answers with the person sitting next to you.
2. Place all your books, notes, and electronic devices in your backpack and out of sight during the exam.
3. Spread out. If room allows, make sure there is at least one empty seat between you and your neighbor.
4. No not alter exams that are being returned for a re-grade.
5. Don’t start the exam with a full bladder. Use the bathroom BEFORE the exam. If you must use the restroom during an exam, it will cost you 25 points.
6. Don’t plagiarize.
7. Don’t use cheat sheets, note cards, calculators, cell phones, or head phones during exams.
8. Ball caps and other hats are not allowed during exams.
9. Any academic misconduct will result in your semester grade being multiplied by a factor of 0 (zero). In other words, the minimum penalty is that you will fail the entire course. More severe forms of cheating and/or unethical behavior could result in more serious sanctions.
Snow days, instructor illness, exams, and coursework: If class is cancelled because the campus is closed or because the instructor is ill and there is an exam or coursework due that day, the exam or coursework will automatically be rescheduled for the next regular class meeting.
Academic Honor Code and Discipline Policies: These policies state that you should behave as honest, responsible adults. In return, you will be treated as honest, responsible adults. Students are to submit only their own work for evaluation, to acknowledge the work and conclusions of others, and to do nothing that would provide an unfair advantage in their academic efforts. Students who fail to comply with the CU-Denver Academic Honor Code are subject to disciplinary action. You only need to concern yourself with the specific policies (found in the University catalog) if you lie, cheat, steal, or disrupt; behaviors that will not be tolerated. Academic dishonesty will be punished severely.
Grievance procedure: If a student has a grievance with any aspect of a course, the first step is to meet with the instructor during office hours or by appointment to discuss the problem. This discussion should not take place by e-mail. Student and instructor should both maintain a professional, respectful demeanor during this discussion, and make an honest effort to listen carefully and to understand the other’s viewpoint. If the grievance cannot be resolved by an honest and sincere dialogue between student and instructor, the student may then make an appointment to discuss the problem with the department chair.
Dropping the course: University regulations allow students to drop up through the 12th day of the semester (8th day in summer) without first obtaining the instructor’s signature. No record of the course will appear on their transcript. After the 12th day and until the beginning of the 10th week students must obtain the instructor’s signature. A grade of “W” will appear on their transcripts. After the 10th week, in addition to the instructor’s signature, the drop request must be signed by the Dean’s office. After the 10th week, drops will be granted only when there are emergencies clearly beyond the student’s control. Dropping a course after the 10th week should not be approved to allow the student avoid an unsatisfactory grade. Be aware that an IW automatically converts to a drop if the incomplete is not made up, so an IW should not be used as a way of allowing a student to drop a course “through the back door”.
Approval of a request to drop a course is solely at the instructor’s discretion. Instructors should provide the date in the course syllabus after which drops will not be granted automatically. [Each semester the applicable dates are published in the Schedule of Courses.]
Retroactive Drops: As is the case for dropping courses after the 10th week of the semester, retroactive drops are not to be used to avoid a grade that is unappealing to the student. It is the policy of the Biology Dept. to approve retroactive drops only in cases where a student can provide documented evidence of a condition that created a hardship of such magnitude that the failure of the student to drop in a timely fashion was justified, in the opinion of the instructor. Initial approval of retroactive drops is solely at the discretion of the course instructor, and only the dean’s office can grant final approval. In cases where the instructor cannot be reached (for example, is no longer employed by the university), the department chair may make the decision. After discussing the matter with the faculty member in charge of the course, the Biology Dept. chair is the first line of appeal.
Note: Students do not need instructors’ signatures if they decide, for good cause, to withdraw from all of their courses during the semester. This is handled through the Dean’s office
Incomplete grades: CLAS Policy on Incomplete Grades
The following college policy on the awarding of Incomplete grades (IW/IF) was approved by the faculty, and was formerly printed in the Schedule of Courses. The CLAS Course Completion agreement is available in the CLAS Advising Office.
Incomplete Grades (IW/IF): Incomplete grades (IW or IF) are not granted for low academic performance. To be eligible for an Incomplete grade, students must (1) successfully complete 75 percent of the course, (2) have special circumstances (verification may be required) that preclude the student from attending class and completing graded assignments, and (3) make arrangements to complete missing assignments with the original instructor. A CLAS Course Completion agreement is strongly suggested.
NOTE:
Students who must retake the course are not eligible for an incomplete grade. Students with poor academic performance are not eligible for an incomplete grade. Student making up an incomplete grade should not re-register for the course.
When an instructor determines that an incomplete grade is justifiable, students are encouraged to submit a CLAS Course Completion Agreement, which is available from the CLAS Advising Office. This contract documents completed and missing assignments, current course grade, and conditions necessary to obtain a letter grade for the course. If this contract has not been fulfilled within one calendar year (12 months), the grade will be converted automatically either into a "W" (from an "IW") or "F" (from an "IF"). The "IF" grade does not mean that the student is necessarily failing at the time it is issued, but it does mean that the student is required to complete the course.
Upon completion of the missing course work, a Change of Record Form should be completed by the original instructor to change the "IW" or "IF" to a letter grade. The original incomplete grade remains on the student’s transcript even after a letter grade is assigned. Grades of incomplete cannot be retroactively added after the semester ends.
Fall 2006
Important Policies and Registration/Academic Deadlines
·
CLAS students
must always have an accurate mailing and e-mail address and are responsible for
making sure all filters are set appropriately to receive official
·
Students must
complete and submit a drop/add form to make any schedule changes. Students
are not automatically dropped from a class if they stop attending or do not
make tuition payments. The student is ultimately responsible for verifying
their schedule prior to officially published drop dates.
·
Late adds will be
approved only when circumstances surrounding the late add are beyond the
student’s control and can be documented.
In addition, late adds will only be approved if the student has not
taken an exams, quizzes or has not completed any graded assignments. Independent verification of this from the
professor will be required. Any late adds will require a petition and
independent documentation from the student.
·
Late drops will
be approved only when circumstances surrounding the late drop are beyond
the student’s control and can be documented independently. This will require a petition and
documentation from the student.
·
Students who wish
to graduate in December of 2006 MUST
meet with their academic advisor to obtain a graduation application. The application must be completed and
submitted by September 6, 2006 to be considered for graduation in December
2006. There are no exceptions to this date.
·
Students are
responsible for completing financial arrangements with financial aid, family,
scholarships, etc. to pay their tuition.
Students will be responsible for all tuition and fees for courses they
do not officially drop by September 6, 2006 using proper drop/add procedures
and forms.
*************************************************************************************
IMPORTANT
DATES
·
August 24, 2006
(midnight) Last day to be added to the wait-list for a closed course.
·
August 24 – September 6, 2006 Students are
responsible for verifying an accurate fall 2006 registration via the SMART
registration system. Students are NOT
notified of their wait-list status by the University when they are added to a
class or dropped from the waitlist. All
students must check their schedules prior to September 6, 2006 for accuracy.
·
August 31, 2006
(midnight) Last day to add courses via
the web SMART registration system.
·
September 6, 2006 (5:00 pm) Last day to add
rostered courses without a written petition for a late add. This
is an absolute deadline. This
deadline does not apply to independent study, internships, and late-starting
modular courses.
·
September 6, 2006 (5:00 pm) Last day to drop a
fall 2006 course for a full tuition refund and no transcript notation. This
is an absolute deadline.
·
September 6, 2006 (5:00 pm) Last day for
undergraduates and graduates to apply for December 2006 graduation. This is an absolute deadline.
·
September 6, 2006 (5:00 pm) Last day to request
pass/fail or no credit option. This is an absolute deadline.
·
October 30, 2006 (5:00 pm) Last day for NON-CLAS students to drop a fall 2006 course
without a petition to their home college and receiving their Dean’s approval.
·
November 10, 2006 (5:00 pm) Last day for CLAS
students to drop a fall 2006 course.
Treated as an absolute deadline. A petition and Dean’s approval required.
·
November 10, 2006 (5:00 pm) Last day to withdraw
(drop all courses) without a written petition.
Dean’s approval required after this date.
See Academic Calendar for
details on registration/payment deadlines:
http://www.cudenver.edu/registrar