BIOLOGY 3371 -FALL 2011
Dr. Dirnberger
338 Science Building
(770) 423-6546
jdirnber@kennesaw.edu
The class webpage: http://science.kennesaw.edu/~jdirnber/limno
"A lake is a landscape's most beautiful expressive feature: it is earth's eye,
onlooking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature."
- Henry David Thoreau`Believe me, my young friend, there is NOTHING--absolute nothing--half so
much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. Simply messing,' he went
on dreamily: `messing--about--in--boats; messing----'
- - Kenneth Grahame » The Wind in the Willows
OBJECTIVES/ COURSE DESCRIPTION
Limnology is aquatic ecology, the study of inland waters.
This course focuses on
why aquatic systems function as they do. The course develops a comprehensive
and integrated understanding of physical, chemical and biological processes
occurring in lakes, streams and wetlands using the scientific method to
investigate and contrast basic ecological processes operating in various systems.
COURSE OUTLINE FOR LIMNOLOGY
Tuesday
Thursday
18 Aug Lecture - Introduction to limnology
23 Aug
Lecture - physical/chemical properties 25 Aug Lecture - physical/chemical properties
Lab – Intro to instrumentation
30 Sep
Field Trip - Allatoona:
physical/chemical
6 Sep
Lecture - physical/chem properties
8Sep
Lecture - physical/chem properties
Lab – Work-up of lake samples and
activities
Field Trip - Allatoona: chlorophyll and 15 Sep EXAM-1
productivity
13 Sep
20 Sep
27 Sep
4 Oct
11 Oct
18 Oct
25 Oct
1 Nov
1 Sept
Lecture - Ecological relationships
22 Sep
Lab – Phytoplankton & chlorophyll
Field Trip – Allatoona: zooplankton and 29 Sep
benthos
Lecture – Ecological relationships
6 Oct
Lab – Zooplankton and benthos
Lecture – Ecological relationships
13 Oct
Lab – Literature discussion on trophic
cascade – PAPER SUMMARIES DUE
Field Trip – Freshwater marsh
20 Oct
Lecture – Wetlands
Lab – Freshwater marsh analysis and
discussion of data analysis for Lab
Report #3
EXAM-2
Lecture - physical/chem properties
Lecture - Ecological relationships
LAB REPORT #1 DUE
Lecture – Ecological relationships – continued
Lecture – Wrap-up on lakes
Lecture – Discussion of data analysis for Lab
Report #2
Lecture – Wetlands
LAB REPORT #2 DUE
27 Oct No class
3 Nov
Lecture - Streams
8 Nov
Field Trip – Stream ecology
LAB REPORT #3 DUE
10 Nov Lecture - Streams
15 Nov
17 Nov Lecture - Applied limnology
22 Nov
Lecture - Streams
Lab – Stream ecology work-up
Lecture – Applied limnology
29 Nov
Field Trip – Lake management
1 Dec
Dec 8
FINAL EXAM
24 Nov No class - Thanksgiving
Lecture - Applied limnology
LAB REPORT #4 DUE
Tuesdays will generally be fieldtrips or labs though the schedule may change due to
weather. On some fieldtrip days, we may divide the class into “shifts” where
different shifts will be asked to arrive at (and leave from) the field site at
different times. On these dates, the first shift begins during lecture time
(obviously there will be no formal lecture at this time). Be prepared and dress
appropriately for fieldwork. Don’t be late or your will figuratively and literally “miss
the boat”!
Thursdays will usually be lecture days, though some dates may include short labs.
In lecture, we will discuss selected topics and previously collected data, as well as
generate hypotheses that will be tested during fieldtrips. You should feel free to
contribute to lectures and discussions.
LAB REPORTS
 Lab report #1 Lakes: Physical and chemical parameters
 Lab report #2 Lakes: Trophic interactions
 Lab report #3 Wetlands
 Lab report #4 Streams
All four lab reports will be handed in through Turnitin.com . (you must “enroll”
at this site: the class id is 4177970 and the password is “Limnology”)
See http://science.kennesaw.edu/~jdirnber/limno/labguide.html for “GUIDELINES
FOR WRITING A LAB REPORT (OR SCIENTIFIC PAPER)”
For accessing papers from many major scientific journals electronically see
http://science.kennesaw.edu/%7Ejdirnber/limno/LiteratureSearch.html
Some







Limnology Books in the KSU Library
Ecology of Inland Waters and Estuaries - Reid
Limnology in North America - Frey
Limnology - Welch
Limnological Methods - Welch
Fundamentals of Limnology - Ruttner
A Treatise on Limnology: Vol. 1 - Hutchinson
A Treatise on Limnology: Vol. 2 – Hutchinson
PREREQUSITES
Two lab science courses and junior or senior level standing.
REQUIRED BOOKS:
None. There will be web-based readings and assigned papers instead.
GRADES:
Exam #1
Exam #2
Final Exam
Lab reports
Paper summaries on trophic cascade
Group work / Participation
A= 90%;
100 pts each
100 pts each
100 pts each
50 pts
25 pts
25 pts
B= 80%;
C= 70%;
= 100 pts
= 100 pts
= 100 pts
= 200 pts
= 25 pts
= 25 pts
550 pts
D= 60%
OFFICE HOURS
MONDAY,WEDNESDAY 9:30-11 AM, THURSDAY 1:30-3:30 PM, FRIDAY 1-3 PM
If you cannot make it during these times, I will be glad to make an appointment with
you. If you are having any problems with the material, please come by and see me.
Don't put it off until it is too late.
POLICIES





Safety must be a primary concern when in lab and in the field. You must
review the Laboratory Safety Guidelines at:
http://science.kennesaw.edu/biophys/LabSafetyGuideNoPic.doc
Attendance: You must show up for field trips on time or you may get left
behind! Attendance on trips is important because some exam questions will
be based on observed systems. An understanding of processes within a study
system is certainly enhanced by first-hand observation of that system.
o Unexcused absences on field trips and labs will result in a 10%
reduction per absence on that lab report.
o To make-up excused absences for field and lab days, you must cite 3
additional references in your lab report. These references must be
relevant to our study and must be from referred journals.
Late lab reports will result in a 5% reduction per class period on that lab
report. The penalty is initiated at the beginning of each class/lab period (i.e.
if the lab is not turned in at the start of class on the day it is due, 5% is
taken off).
Keep all of your returned, graded work (exams and lab reports). You must
have these materials if you decide to contest your final course grade.
Do not turn assignments in by e-mail or other electronic formats. Hard
copies only.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Any student with a documented disability or medical condition needing academic
accommodations of class-related activities or schedules must contact the instructor
immediately. Written verification from the KSU disAbled Student Support Services is
required. No requirements exist that accommodations be made prior to completion of this
approved University documentation. All discussions will remain confidential.
ACADEMIC WITHDRAWL POLICY
To withdraw, the student should complete an official withdrawal form in the Office of the
Registrar. Students who officially withdraw from courses on or before the last day to
withdraw without academic penalty will receive a “W”. Students who officially withdraw
after the last day to withdraw without academic penalty (and before the last three weeks of
the semester) will receive a “WF”, which will be counted as an “F” in calculation of their
grade point average. The only exceptions to these withdrawal regulations will be for
instances involving unusual circumstances, which are fully documented. Students may appeal
to the academic standing committee for consideration of unusual circumstances.
LAST DATE TO WITHDRAW WITHOUT ACADEMIC PENALTY
OCTOBER 12th 2009
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Every KSU student is responsible for upholding the provisions of the Student code of
Conduct, as published in the Undergraduate and Graduate catalogs. Section II of the
Student Code of Conduct addresses the University’s policy on academic honesty, including
provisions regarding plagiarism and cheating, unauthorized access to University materials,
misrepresentation/falsification of University records or academic malicious/intentional
misuses of computer facilities and/or services, and misuse of student identification cards.
Incidents of alleged academic misconduct will be handled through the
established procedures of the University Judiciary Program, which includes
either an “Informal” resolution by a faculty member, resulting in a grade
adjustment, or a formal hearing procedure, which may subject a student to
the Code of Conduct’s minimum one semester suspension requirement.