Syllabus for Bio 575 – Ecology of the Great Lakes – July 9-30, 2007
Instructor: Dr. Eric Snyder
Office: Henry Hall 224
phone: 331-2417
home: 616-844-0317
email: snydeeri@gvsu.edu
Lecture: 8:00 – 11:20; PAD 250
Office Hours: I will be available at my
office immediately following classes.
Don’t hesitate to call or email.
Course Description and Objectives: The Great Lakes represent a remarkable
ecosystem that is as complex and diverse as any freshwater system in the world. That
Lake Michigan is on our back doorstep represents a unique opportunity to begin to
understand the linkages between the aquatic and the terrestrial ecosystems. Toward this
end, we will spend significant amounts of time covering the not only the ecology of the
Great Lakes themselves, but also the interaction between human activities within the
watershed of the Great Lakes and the ecological integrity of the rivers and streams that
drain into them.
In the end, my goal is to provide you not with pedagogical techniques that can be used in
a classroom, but rather with a comprehensive understanding of the following ideas or
themes that will provide the background from which teaching can occur. Themes include
the following:

Historical perspective of the Great Lakes

Ecological structure and function of the Great Lakes

Influence of human activities within the watershed on water quality

Assessment of influent river water quality on water quality of the lakes
themselves

Assessment of human impacts on the ecological integrity of the lakes
PLEASE, don’t hesitate to contact me (in any shape or form) at any time. I love to
answer questions, in- or outside of class!
Laboratories:
We will be outside for all labs. Come dressed appropriately (e.g. multiple layers, rain
gear, hat, etc). On the days we go on the D.J. Angus or the W.G. Jackson, remember that
it will be significantly cooler on water than on land.
Bring the following on all lab days:

food as needed

sunscreen

insect repellant

drinking water

a camera

a notebook in which to keep records + pencil(s)

Dramamine/ginger pills/etc if you get seasick
During each lab we will collect data, conduct experiments and make observations. For
each lab, you will need to turn in a report discussing these. I will give you specific
directions for each lab experience. These reports will be graded and returned to you.
During each lab, record your observations, hypotheses, raw data and initial results in a
lab journal. This notebook will be turned in to me during the final exam. I will return it
to you. In this journal you should include the following:
1. description of the weather;
2. location of and general description of the site(s) visited;
3. your description of what we tried to accomplish that day, including a brief data
summary;
4. your assessment and analysis of what we learned that day;
5. any connections you were able to make between that day’s work and the rest of
the course.
Class discussion and primary literature review:
A. Primary Literature. Given that this is a graduate level course, each week we’ll come
up with a series of primary literature papers that cover a range of topics. Each of you will
select one of these topics based on your interested and passions and will then generate a
citation list that encompasses current (e.g. the last 5 years) research on your topic of
choice. The class will then vote on which paper to first read then discuss. These
discussions will be led by you and will require distribution of a study guide or list of
questions to be distributed to the class prior to discussion. This should help get the
discussion going. Your participation in both reading and the class discussion is VITAL
to make this work. So come prepared!
B. Great Lakes Water Wars. In addition, we’ll try and read ALL of the Annin book.
This is a lot to ask, but it is a really good book. Interestingly, there are 14 chapters and
14 of us, so we’ll each take a chapter and develop a maximum of 5 discussion questions
for each. Focus these questions on the MAIN take-home points of each chapter.
C. Weekly News Roundup. Finally, every Friday I’d like you each to come to class
with a summary of a newspaper article that encompasses Great Lakes Ecology in some
shape or form. Write a very brief (e.g. 1 paragraph) summary of this article to share with
the class.
Your class participation grade will be determined based on these activities.
Schedule:
Monday, July 9 – LECTURE – Introduction; Geography and characteristics of the five
Great Lakes and their associated drainage basins; History of humans in the basin
and their use and misuse of the Great Lakes – Chapters 1 & 2
Tuesday July 10 – LAB (wetland ecology) – We will spend the morning studying the
wetlands and rivers along the Grand River.
Wednesday, July 11 – LECTURE – Geological origins of the Great Lakes Basin,
including the Pleistocene glaciation that resulted in today’s Great Lakes; Physical
and chemical characteristics of the water of the Great Lakes – Chapters 3 & 6
Thursday, July 12 – LAB (stream ecology) – We will compare and contrast two
streams near Allendale that differ in land use and water quality.
Friday, July 13 - DISCUSSION – Discussion of first three primary literature papers and
Part 1 (Annin). Eric leads discussion on Baron et al. 2004.
Monday, July 16 – LECTURE - Interactions between land, rivers and the Great Lakes;
Impact of agriculture, lumbering and domestic water consumption. Ecology of
the Great Lakes wetlands – Chapter 5
Tuesday, July 17 – LAB (dune ecology) – We will study the sand dunes at the
Lindquist-Kitchel Dune Preserve in Grand Haven and at Hoffmaster State Park.
Wednesday, July 18 – EXAM I (1 hour); LECTURE – Wave formation; Beach
erosion; Origin, development and ecology of sand dunes – Chapter 4
Thursday, July 19 – LAB (lake ecology) – Trip aboard the D.J. Angus. Boarding time
at 8:00 am in Grand Haven (see attached map). We will sail on the D. J. Angus
into the Grand River and Spring Lake, a eutrophic lake, where we will collect and
analyze samples of the water and the bottom sediments.
Friday, July 20 – DISCUSSION – Discussion of the second four primary literature
papers and Part II (Annin).
Monday, July 23 – LECTURE – Water quality and pollution in the Great Lakes and
their tributaries; eutrophication; the role of the Great Lakes in influencing climate
and weather; the problem of acid rain – Chapter 10
Tuesday, July 24 – LAB – 8:00 am to 11:00 am (Jackson tour of deeper waters in Lake
Michigan)
Wednesday, July 25 – LECTURE – An ecosystem perspective of the Great Lakes
Basin; Biological characteristics of the Great Lakes Fisheries and exotic species
that have been introduced – Chapters 7-9
Thursday, July 26 – LAB – 8:00 am to 11:00 am (Jackson tour of Muskegon Lake)
Friday, July 27 – EXAM (1 hour); DISCUSSION – Discussion of final four primary
literature papers and Part III (Annin). Finish up any loose ends and discussion.
Grading:;
First examination -------------------------------------------- 25 %
Second examination ----------------------------------------- 25 %
Laboratory reports ------------------------------------------- 25 %
Laboratory notebook ---------------------------------------- 10 %
Class literature review, discussion, and participation --- 15 %
Course grades are not mailed out officially until the middle of August. You can stop by
to pick up your final exam and laboratory notes at any time, or I can mail them to you.
Texts:
Shontz, J. P. 2001. Guide to the Ecology of the Great Lakes Basin.
Annin, P. 2006. The Great Lakes Water Wars. Island Press.