Welcome to Stream Ecology! Most likely you are in this course because you love aquatic ecosystems (and/or the organisms in them) and may be interested in a career that in some way involves aquatic environments. Stream ecosystems provide a fascinating template to explore ecological concepts, including primary production, population growth, species richness, nutrient cycling, dispersal, food webs, competition, and many others. A deep appreciation of the diversity of stream environments is important when attempting to manage how humans use (and often abuse) aquatic ecosystems. Given that most of Earth is covered in water and water is critical to the survival of all life on Earth, I would argue that everyone should have a thorough understanding of stream ecosystems.
Stream ecology investigates the interplay between aquatic organisms and their physical, chemical, and biological environment. The course will focus on freshwater streams and wetlands, although you will learn by the end of the class that even freshwater ecology (or limnology, the study of inland water bodies) is a big topic that we can only scratch the surface of in one semester. Throughout this course you will learn basic ecological concepts, ecological theory, and methods in aquatic ecology, and apply them to understand impacts of human activities and management on aquatic ecosystems.
Course Objectives: During the course, you will learn field sampling skills, laboratory identification and sample processing skills, critical thinking skills for interpretation and application of literature to relevant management issues, and communication skills for the general public. By the end of the course, fully engaged students will be able to:
1. Describe the physical, chemical, and biological properties associated with streams
2. Employ methods for sampling freshwater stream systems
3. Integrate ecological theory and methods to understand and address problems in stream ecology
4. Evaluate scientific literature and issues integral to conducting research in stream systems
5. Analyze and interpret data collected in class and presented in papers
6. Synthesize scientific information into a short, creative product that is accessible to the public
- Teacher: James Garner