BIO-246 Limnology

An introduction to the scientific study of inland waters, limnology concerns itself with all the factors that affect living populations within those waters. Through lecture and field experiences, the student will become familiar with physical and chemical processes in water, especially those that have a direct effect on biological organisms. Standard methods and highly technical instrumentation will be used on board the college’s educational vessel. A survey of life forms and identification skills will be emphasized as well as aquatic community structure and interactions.

Credits

4

Cross Listed Courses

CON-246

Lecture Contact Hours

3

Lab Contact Hours

2

Other Contact Hours

0

Department

• Science & Technology

Grading Scheme

• Letter

SUNY Gen Ed Credit

• No

Course Learning Outcomes

1. Students will comprehend the historical development of the science of limnology, it's multidisciplinary nature, and the complex issues affecting modern water resource management
2. Students will demonstrate identification skills for aquatic organisms as well as knowledge of their taxonomic classification
3. Students will recognize the impact of invasive species on the structure of function of aquatic communities
4. Students will be able to successfully operate state-of-the-art limnology field equipment including water quality data loggers, Van Dorn samplers, bottom dredges, plankton nets, and fisheries equipment as well as standard laboratory instruments including weighing balances, dissecting microscopes and spectrophotometers

View Course Outline

BIO 246: Limnology

Department

Science and Technology

Course Description

An introduction to the scientific study of inland waters, limnology concerns itself with all the factors that affect living populations within those waters. Through lecture and field experiences, the student will become familiar with physical and chemical processes in water, especially those that have a direct effect on biological organisms. Standard methods and highly technical instrumentation will be used on board the college’s educational vessel. A survey of life forms and identification skills will be emphasized as well as aquatic community structure and interactions.

Credit Hours

4

Contact Hours

Lecture	3
Lab	2
Other	0

Grading Scheme

Letter

Course Learning Outcomes

1. Students will comprehend the historical development of the science of limnology, it's multidisciplinary nature, and the complex issues affecting modern water resource management
2. Students will demonstrate identification skills for aquatic organisms as well as knowledge of their taxonomic classification
3. Students will recognize the impact of invasive species on the structure of function of aquatic communities
4. Students will be able to successfully operate state-of-the-art limnology field equipment including water quality data loggers, Van Dorn samplers, bottom dredges, plankton nets, and fisheries equipment as well as standard laboratory instruments including weighing balances, dissecting microscopes and spectrophotometers

Topic Outline

Lecture Topics:

1. Introduction to limnology  
2. Characteristics of water   
3. Vertical temperature profiles 
4. Lake mixing events   
5. Vertical oxygen profiles
6. Underwater light environment
7. Heat budgets   
8. Water movements    
9. Ripples, waves and seiches   
10. Diversity of aquatic organisms   
11. Prokaryotes, Protista, fungi   
12. Rotifers, annelids, branchiopods  
13. Copepods, malacostracans, insects  
14. Mollusks, fishes, and other large animals
15. Aquatic macrophytes 
16. Introduction to population dynamics
17. Life history strategies
18. Ecology of aquatic communities
19. Community interactions and community structure  
20. Community change and invasive species  
21. Primary and secondary production
22. Carbon cycle, oxygen cycle  
23. Nutrient dynamics: phosphorus and nitrogen cycles 
24. Sizes and shapes of lakes and streams
25. Lake and stream origins
26. Watershed management and applied limnology 

Laboratory topics:

1. Physical limnology of the Finger Lakes  
2. Heat budgets and resistance to mixing 
3. Introduction to plankton  
4. Macrophyte communities in Honeoye Lake
5. Aquatic invasive species 
6. Introduction to macro-organisms
7. Residential experience at a local field station
8. Field collection of stream data on the Honeoye  
   1. Outlet and Mill Creek
9. Field collection of stream data on Eelpot Creek  
10. Food-web models  
11. Primary productivity of lakes and ponds 
12. Limnological statistics  
13. Production  of morphometric maps 
14. Lab practical exam