LIMNOLOGY LABORATORY (EFB 525)

SYLLABUS, FALL 2006

Wednesdays 1:50-4:50 OR

Thursdays 12:30-3:20

Room 251 Illick Hall

DATA FOR MODEL LAKES LABS: Wednesday   or    Thursday

Lake Data Files

Course description:

            The limnology laboratory is meant to complement the limnology lecture and give hands on experience with physical, chemical and biological limnology.  The labs will consist of demonstrations of limnological concepts, a few experiments, and introductions to various aquatic analysis techniques.  Field trips to diverse local lakes and lakes in the Huntington Forest (Adirondacks) will allow students to master sampling and measurement techniques for common physical, chemical and biological data collected in limnology.  Laboratory work will include some chemical analysis of lake water, an introduction to diversity and counting methods for aquatic organisms (especially phytoplankton and zooplankton), and an introduction to several experimental methods for aquatic communities and ecosystems.  Students will be evaluated on short problem sets (most can be completed during the lab period itself) and a short presentation.  Attendance is mandatory.

Professor:                               Dr. Kimberly L. Schulz (456 Illick Hall)
                                                            470-6808; kschulz@syr.edu

Teaching Assistant:  

Cynthia Watson; lwatsonr@syr.edu;
Office Hours: (106 Illick) Wednesdays 5:00-6:00 PM; Thursdays 11:00 AM-noon

A laboratory manual will be distributed the second week.

Optional Textbook:                Wetzel, R.G. and G.E. Likens. Limnological
                                                            Analysis. Saunders College Publishing, third
                                                            edition.

Field trips will be canceled in the event of catastrophic asteroid impact (or maybe a severe thunderstorm).  The status of field trips during any other natural disaster or storm will be determined on a case by case basis; therefore DRESS APPROPRIATELY and be prepared for possible unexpected delays in processing samples and cleaning field equipment upon return from the field trips.

WL = Wetzel and Likens (OPTIONAL)

Grading breakdown and due dates

Assignment                                                                   Due Date                      % of grade

Lake Morphometry Exercise                                         Sept. 13/14                    10

Model Lakes Exercise                                                   Sept. 20/21                    10

Field Trip Data for your lake – electronic file                  Week after your trip      5

Spectroscopy Exercise (Water Chem.)                           Oct. 18/19                     5

Water Chemistry Data Workup                                      Oct. 25/26                     5

Phytoplankton/Macrophyte Worksheet                            Oct. 25/26                     5

Phytoplankton/Marcrophyte Data for your lake               Nov 8/9                         5

Zooplankton/Benthic Worksheet                                     Nov. 1/2                       5

Zooplankton/Benthic Data for your lake                          Nov. 15/16                    10

Inducible Defense Worksheet                                        Nov. 29/30                    5

Experiment  Worksheet                                                 Dec. 6/7                       5

Data presentation                                                          Dec. 6/7                       10

Lake Comparison exercise                                             Dec. 11                        10

Participation                                                                                                      10

Late Policy:

If you find that you have several assignments or outside obligations due on the same day, see me before the Limnology assignment is due, and we can work out a reasonable extension. If you don’t contact me before the assignment is due, I will generally accept late assignments, but at a late penalty of 10% per day. So, obviously, if you anticipate difficulty with completing an assignment, you should contact me early! I will not accept late problem sets after the answer key has been posted (usually at the next class period).

Honor Code

ESF and SU students are bound by an academic honor code that details rights and responsibilities for study. You should be aware that this code provides serious sanctions for academic dishonesty (including but not limited to plagiarism and cheating). I expect that you will follow the honor code. Any violation of the honor code will result in failing the assignment and/or failing the course. If you have any questions about the ESF honor code or about what constitutes plagiarism or cheating, please either check the ESF website or come speak with me.

Class Absence

If you encounter a situation beyond your control during which you will be missing 3 or more days of classes, you can contact the Office of Student Life (110 Bray, (315) 470-6660, FAX: (315) 470-4728), and they will contact all your instructors for you.  Supportive documentation may be required.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

If you have an identified disability and will need accommodations, you should first contact Mr. Slocum in the Office of Student Life in 110 Bray Hall.  He will discuss the ESF process and work with you to access supportive services.  If you have a learning disability, the College will require you to provide supportive documentation and will develop an approved accommodation sheet for you.  Accommodations cannot be provided until the accommodation sheet is established and we have met to discuss its applicability to this course.  Accommodations cannot be provided retroactively.  If you have any questions about class absences or disabilities, please contact me and/or Mr. Slocum as soon as possible.  All conversations will be strictly confidential.

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