Limnology

About the course

Overall, this course addresses the fundamental physical, chemical, and ecological attributes of freshwater systems, including rivers and lakes. Laboratory work will introduce students to aquatic biota that are common to northern aquatic ecosystems, with an emphasis on how different organismal groups can be used to understand and monitor the ecological health and chemical status of rivers and lakes. In this context, students will conduct small group projects that explore how the diversity and composition of stream benthic communities can be used to assess environmental changes on land. Additional course lectures and discussions will then focus on a broader set of foundational limnological themes. These include how we understand the hydrological and thermal properties of lakes and rivers, how geomorphological processes (e.g., sediment transport) act to mediate the aquatic habitat template, how physical processes (e.g., lake circulation) drive the dynamics of key nutrients (e.g., nitrogen and phosphorus), and finally how aquatic ecosystem processes (e.g., photosynthesis and respiration) can mediate elemental cycles and water quality.  These themes will emphasis basic concepts and processes, but where relevant will also place these in the context of relevant environmental changes (e.g., climate change and nutrient pollution).