ZOOL 5463 Syllabus
 
 

                

ZOOL 5463 -- STREAM ECOLOGY

Spring 2003                                                       

MEETINGS:        

 

Lecture - Tuesday & Thursday 9:00-9:50, LSW 102

Laboratory - Tuesday, 12:30-3:20, LSW 316

INSTRUCTORS:

 

Bill Fisher - Office: 431 LSW, Phone: 744-6342

OBJECTIVES:

 

1.    To identify the physical and chemical properties of and processes in streams and rivers.

2.    To investigate stream biota and their adaptations for life in flowing waters.

3.    To examine ecological processes and theories pertinent to stream ecosystems.

4.    To assess the influence of human activities on streams and rivers.

5.    To learn field and laboratory methods in stream ecology.

 

TEXTS & READINGS: 

 

Lecture

Allan, J. D.  1995.  Stream ecology structure and function.  Chapman and Hall, London, UK.

Selected articles as assigned.

 

Laboratory:

Hauer, F. R., and G. A. Lamberti.  1996.  Methods in stream ecology.  Academic Press, San Diego, CA.

 

EXAMS & ASSIGNMENTS:

 

Mid-term exam and final comprehensive exam

Laboratory exercises as assigned

Field or laboratory stream ecology project and report

 

GRADING: 

 

Lecture exams and participation in discussion sessions:  50%

Laboratory reports:  25%

Project report:  25%

REVISED LECTURE SCHEDULE:

 

Date

Topic

Readings*

Jan 14

Introduction, history & video

 

 

Physico-Chemical Properties & Processes

 

Jan 16

Hydrology, drainage basins, and streamflow

Chap. 1

Jan 21

Fluvial processes and sediment transport

Chap. 1

Jan 23

Channel morphology

Chap. 2

Jan 28

Physical & chemical characteristics

Chap. 3

Jan 30

DISCUSSION

Frissel et al. (1986)

 

Biotic Characteristics & Interactions

 

Feb 4

Biota—autotrophs and adaptations

Chap. 4

Feb 6

Biota—heterotrophs and adaptations

Chap. 5

Feb 11

Trophic relationships

Chap. 6

Feb 13

Biotic interactions--predation & herbivory

Chaps. 7 & 8

Feb 18

Biotic interactions--competition

Chap. 9

Feb 20

DISCUSSION

Powers et al. (1985)

 

Community Processes & Ecosystem Theories

 

Feb 25

Drift

Chap. 10

Feb 27

Community structure and function

Chap. 11

Mar 4

Environmental variability and abiotic influences

Chap. 11

Mar 6

Stream ecosystem theories

Chap. 12

Mar 11

DISCUSSION

Poff and Allan (1994)

Mar 13

MID-TERM EXAM

 

Mar 18, 20

SPRING BREAK

 

 

Ecosystem Processes & Dynamics

 

Mar 25

Primary production

Chap. 4

Mar 27

Secondary production

Chap. 5

Apr 1

Energy flow & organic matter budgets

Chap. 12

Apr 3

Nutrient dynamics

Chap. 13

Apr 8

DISCUSSION

Fisher & Carpenter (1976)

 

Human Impacts

 

Apr 10

Human activities and river modification

Chap. 14

Apr 15

Water pollution

Chap. 14

Apr 17

Impoundments & regulated streamflow

Chap. 14

Apr 22

Instream flow assessment

Chap. 14

Apr 24

Stream rehabilitation & restoration

Chap. 14

Apr 29

River flow and biodiversity conservation (video)

Chap. 14

May 1

DISCUSSION

Allan & Flecker (1993)

May 6

FINAL EXAM DUE

 

 

*In Allan (1995)

                    


TENTATIVE DISCUSSION PAPERS

 

Jan 28:    Frissell, C.A., W.J. Liss, C.E. Warren, and M.D. Hurley. 1986. A hierarchical framework for stream habitat classification: viewing streams in a watershed context. Environmental Management 10:199-214.

 

Feb 18:   Power, M.E., W.J. Matthews, and A.J. Stewart. 1985. Grazing minnows, piscivorous bass, and stream algae: dynamics of a strong interaction. Ecology 66:1448-1456.

 

Mar 11:  Poff, N.L. and J.D. Allan. 1995. Functional organization of stream fish assemblages in relation to hydrologic variability. Ecology 76:606-627.

 

Apr 8:     Fisher, S.G. and S.R. Carpenter. 1976. Ecosystem and macrophyte primary production of the Fort River, Massachusetts. Hydrobiologia 47:175-187.

 

May 1:    Allan, J.D. and A.S. Flecker. 1993.  Biodiversity conservation in running waters. BioScience 43:32-43.

 

REVISED LABORATORY SCHEDULE:

 

Date

Laboratory exercise

Readings*

 

Jan 14 

Introduction, stream sampling

Video

 

Jan 21

Stream morphology, GIS & hydrology 

Chaps. 1 & 2

 

Jan 28

Hydrologic analysis, computer lab

(Stream mophology lab due)

Chap. 3 & 4

 

Feb 4

Field tripBhabitat mapping, physicochemical analysis (Hydrologic analysis lab due)

Chaps. 5, 13 & 16

 

Feb 11

Macroinvertebrate identification & analysis       

Chap. 16

 

Feb 18

Macroinvertebrate identification & analysis       

Chap. 16

 

Feb 25

Field tripBdeploy leaf packs & colonization samplers (Physicochemical & Macroinvertbrate labs due)

Chaps. 17 & 27

 

Mar 4

Fish identification and analysis, deploy samplers

Chaps. 22 & 23

 

Mar 11

Field tripBcollect leaf packs, deploy samplers

Chaps. 17 & 27

 

Mar 18

Spring Break:  Deploy samplers        

Chap. 17

 

Mar 25

Field tripBcollect leaf packs, process samples; deploy samplers, retrieve all samplers on Mar 27 (Fish lab due)

 

 

Apr 1

Process samplers

Chap. 27

 

Apr 8  

Field tripBcollect leaf packs; Lab experiment—insect growth

Chap. 17 & 16

 

Apr 15

Complete growth experiment (Colonization lab due)

Chap. 27

 

Apr 22

Field tripBcollect last leaf packs (Insect growth lab due)

Chap. 17

 

Apr 29

Present projects (Leaf breakdown lab due)

TBA

 

May 2-3

Field tripBSand Creek or Glover River & Baron Fork

Chaps. 17 & 31

 

 

*In Hauer & Lamberti (1996)