Limnology: The Science of Inland Waters

Catalog description

Only 0.02% of the planet’s water supply is found in inland lakes, streams, and wetlands, but these bodies of water are intricately linked to human activity. This course will cover the fundamentals of aquatic ecology, chemistry, and hydrology, and explore how these branches of science intersect in healthy and polluted bodies of water. Students will learn how light, heat, oxygen, and nutrient budgets affect aquatic communities, and how communities in turn affect their physical and chemical surroundings. Particular attention will be given to the effects of human agriculture, industry, and built environments on aquatic ecosystems and water quality.