Field Ecology of Aquatic Organisms - FAS 5276C
Syllabus and Class Schedule



Schedule*: Mondays and Wednesdays 8:00am - 12:15pm
                  Thursday 8:00am - 6:15pm

Location: Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Conference Room

Objectives: To gain an overview of the diverse aquatic ecosystems found in the State of Florida. From each field trip we will identify the prominent plants, fishes and invertebrates that occur, and investigate the community composition. Students will be expected to identify common organisms, and compare the dominant primary producers, secondary and tertiary consumers across systems. Lectures will augment field collections.

Textbooks: Aquatic Plant Identification Deck - available at the bookstore - $13.00
                   "Ecosystems of Florida" Myers and Ewel (1990) $34.95
                   "Florida Freshwater Plants" Hoyer et al. (1996) - on reserve
                   "Handbook of Common Freshwater Fish in Florida Lakes"Hoyer and Canfield (1994) - on reserve

Grading: Participation in field work - 30%
                Exam 1 - 30%
                Final Exam - 40%

                90-100 -> A
                88-89 --> B+
                80-87 --> B
                70-79 -> C
                60-69 -> D
                < 60 -> F
 

Checklist for each Field Trip:

___ old clothes and shoes (not sandals) for getting in the water, a change of dry clothes

___ sunscreen, insect repellent

___ plenty of water to drink/lunches (each person responsible for their own)

___ rain gear or parka

___ a notepad to write notes
 

To identify from each Field Trip:

___ general trophic state

___ predominant primary producers (plankton or macrophytes)

___ predominant primary consumers (usually invertebrates)

___ secondary and tertiary consumers (fishes)

___ presence and potential influence of exotic plants or animals
 
 

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