Aquatic Biodiversity
Biology 3372/01
Fall 2006
"Thoreau plumbed the depths of Walden Pond and marked them on his map.
He surveyed the fish that lived in the waters of the pond, he catalogued its
weeds, and during the winter he recorded the thickness of the ice. It was a
part of his balance book, an accounting of his riches, a reckoning of a
fortune that was there for the taking. These, said Thoreau - the measures,
the depths, the thickness - are a man’s true economy. "
-Chet Raymo - THE SOUL OF THE NIGHT
INSTRUCTORS, OFFICE LOCATIONS, PHONES, E-MAILS AND
OFFICE HOURS:
Dr. Ensign
SC 331
(770)499-3505
bensign@kennesaw.edu
Office Hours: By app’t.
Dr. Dirnberger
SC 338
(770)423-6546
jdirnber@kennesaw.edu
Office Hours:
MONDAY WEDNESDAY 1–3 PM
TUESDAY 1-3 PM
FRIDAY 10 AM - 12 PM
Dr. Sutton
SC 329
(770)499-3454
hsutton@kennesaw.edu
Office Hours: By app’t.
Other office hours may be available by appointment.
Call or e-mail to check on availability.
CLASS WEB PAGE:
 Follow the links at:
http://science.kennesaw.edu/~jdirnber/AquaticBiodiversity
CLASS LOCATION AND MEETING TIMES
 Lecture: Tuesday and Thursday, 11:00 to 12:15, SC 213
 Lab: Thursday, 2:00 - 4:45, SC 241
 There will be a number of exceptions to this schedule related to both
local and weekend field trips, and extended lab periods. These
exceptions will also be announced in class and are noted on the schedule
(http://science.kennesaw.edu/~jdirnber/AquaticBiodiversity/biodivschedule06.xls ).
OBJECTIVES
 Become familiar with major taxa of aquatic organisms and their
natural histories.
 Develop skills to identify aquatic organisms to lower taxonomic levels.
 Appreciate the diversity of aquatic organisms in Georgia.


Appreciate variation in distributions of organisms and the physical,
ecological, and historical factors that influence these distributions.
Develop the ability to compile and organize a collection of field
specimens.
PREREQUISITE
 Ecology (Biology 3370 and 3370L) with a grade of “C” or better
REQUIRED BOOKS:
 Blank, bound notebook for field notes
 Three-ring binder for handouts
 Assigned readings will be placed on reserve in the library or will be
available on the class web site
REQUIRED GEAR:
 Waders for field trips. Discount stores usually have cheap pairs that
tennis shoes can be worn over. We can also direct you to web sites
that have slightly more expensive, but significantly more durable
waders.
 Old (unless you want to get your new stuff dirty), warm clothes for
field trips
 You may need a personal vehicle for day field trips or arrange to car
pool with classmates (we plan to rent vans for weekend field trips).
 Camping gear for weekend field trips.
 Raingear
GRADES:
 Lecture test = 13%
 General Lab Practicals (3 @ 15% each) = 45%
 Specialty Lab Practical = 10%
 Final paper = 13%
 Field notebook = 10%
 Weekend Field Trip Attendance (3 @ 3% per trip) = 9%
Absences from field trip points can be made up by submitting a
research paper (topics to be chosen by the instructors)
FINAL GRADE DETERMINATION:
A >90%
B >80%
C > 70%
D >60%
F < 60%
ASSIGNMENTS:
 The lecture test will include all material covered in lecture. Since lab
and lecture are closely connected we will give more details closer to
the lecture test date. The format will be some combination of multiple
choice, matching, short answer, and essay questions.
 There will be three general lab practicals. Each practical will cover
one of the major groups (aquatic plants, aquatic invertebrates, and
fish) addressed in this class. The instructor responsible for each
group will provide information on the level of detailed knowledge
expected for their group.
 In addition to developing general knowledge of all three groups, you
will choose one of the three groups as your "specialty" area. You will
be expected to develop taxonomic skills in this group that are beyond
the general level. You will demonstrate that advanced knowledge in a
"specialty" practical during the final exam period.
 To demonstrate your understanding of the factors influencing the
distribution of aquatic taxa, you will be expected to write a final
paper using the data we collect during our field trips around the state.
Although the final paper is not due until November 30, there are
three interim assignments related to the paper that need to be
turned in during the course of the semester. Each of the interim
assignments will count 10% of the total paper grade, with the final
paper counting 70%. More details about the interim assignments and
expectations for the final paper will be provided later.
 You will be expected to maintain a field notebook that has entries for
each of the sites we visit during all of our field trips. More details on
this will be given in class.
 Attendance at the weekend field trips is mandatory. If you miss a
trip for any reason, you will be expected to submit a 4-6 page
research paper on a topic chosen by the instructor within three weeks
of the date of the missed trip.
CLASS AND FIELD TRIP MEETINGS
 We will always meet in the lecture room, but on some dates we may go
immediately to the lab room. Please do not show up late for lecture or

lab, as the instructor will often start with material critical for that
class, and will not go over it a second time.
On field trip dates, don’t be late! Being a little late for a field trip is
like being a little bit pregnant. Also, arrive ready to travel. We will
not stop for gas, food, or other items. Dress appropriately for field
work. If you layer clothing, you won’t have to worry about being too
warm or too cool.
LATE ASSIGNMENTS AND MISSED PRACTICUM EXAMS:
 For each 24 hour period that an assignment is late, you will lose 5% of
the points available for that assignment. The penalty clock begins to
tick at the beginning of the lecture period on the day the assignment
is due. For example, if an assignment is due on Tuesday at the
beginning of class (11:00 am) and turned Tuesday at 4:00 pm, you
would lose 5% of the available points. You would lose 15% of the
available points if you turned the assignment in on Thursday at 2:00
pm. There are no exceptions to this rule.
 There will be no make-up exams for missed practicals or lecture
exams unless there are grossly extenuating circumstances (death in
the family, illness requiring a doctor's care, to cite two examples). All
grossly extenuating circumstance will require third party verification.
WITHDRAWAL FROM CLASS/SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS:
 The last day to withdraw from a course without academic penalty is
October 13th. Students may withdraw from one or more courses anytime
before the last three weeks of the semester. However, as of Fall 2004,
students will be allowed a maximum of eight total withdrawals if the
enter KSU as a freshman. Transfer students will be allowed one
withdrawal per fifteen credit hours attempted, for a maximum of eight.
Students who choose to pursue a second degree at KSU will be allowed two
additional withdrawals. Students who entered KSU before the Fall of 2004
will be allowed one withdrawal per fifteen credit hours attempted for a
maximum of eight. 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.

If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a
disability, if you have emergency medical information that we should
be aware of (in particular, any allergies to stinging insects), or if you
need other special arrangements, please see me after class or set up
an appointment as soon as possible.
OTHER COURSE POLICIES
 Changes in any policies listed in this syllabus will be announced at least
a week in advance of the change taking place, and will be announced in
class and in a written handout.
 Keep all of your returned, graded work. You must have these
materials if you decide to contest your final course grade.
 Do not turn in assignments electronically (i.e. We want hard copies).
 To find out about school closings due to inclement weather check the
KSU website here:
https://portal2.kennesaw.edu/pls/portal92/APP_SNOW.DYN_SHOW_STATUS.sho
w
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 work, malicious removal, retention, or destruction
of library materials, malicious/intentional misuse 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.