Freshwater Ecosystems

Catalog description

This course investigates physical, chemical, biological processes of lakes, wetlands and streams through an ecosystem based approach. Focus is on interactions between abiotic and biotic components and the transfer of energy between different trophic levels. Students learn important aquatic plant and animal taxa, nutrient cycles, and the physical and chemical characteristics of aquatic settings. This foundational knowledge is applied to understanding environmental stresses currently impacting freshwater ecosystems, including excess nutrients, climate change and invasive species. Course work includes classroom based lectures and discussions and a field based lab which visits a range of freshwater environments. 3 Lecture hours and 3 Lab hours. Prerequisites: GL 111, GL 110 or BI 102. Offered: Fall, odd years.