Objectives: The intent of this course is to acquaint environmental science majors with the basic principles of identification and quantification of phytoplankton and vascular plants for the purpose of water quality assessment as well as wetland delineation. Emphasis will be placed on the productivity of aquatic plants and their importance in aquatic ecosystems. One section of this course is typically offered in the fall semester of even years.

Prerequisites: General Biology (Biol 101) or Principles of Biology (Biol 104)

Credit Value: 3

Contact Time: Two 50 minute lectures and one 3 hour laboratory per week.

Outcomes: Upon the successful completion of this course a student should be able to:

• conduct, or supervise others in a study acceptable to government agencies in the determination and classification of wetlands
• use sampling methods to determine species coverage, density, and frequency for the purpose of calculating importance value
• identify wetland species in the local flora
• describe different types of wetland habitats
• use or recommend different control means for aquatic vegetation
• generally discuss aspects of aquatic vegetation relative to their anatomical, whether micro- or macro-adaptations to the environment

Assessment:

• Laboratory exercise: The delineation of wetlands - to be submitted as a formal report.
• Essay: The indroduction, impact, and control of the hydrophyte ______________ in North America.
• Quizzes: A number of spot quizzes will be administered during lecture periods at the discretion of the instructor. The content, independent point value, and date of administration of quizzes will be at the discretion of the instructor.
• Midterm examination: Questions will cover course (lecture) content to date.
• Final laboratory examination: Questions will deal with topics and exercises directly examined during laboratory periods.
• Final lecture examination: Questions will be comprehensive and deal with material covered during lecture periods.

• NOTE: Assessment methods may vary between instructors.

Lecture Schedule:

• Overview of syllabus
• General introduction to aquatic plants
• Identification of aquatic plants
• The aquatic habitat
• Overview of the aquatic plants of Pennsylvania
• Wetlands - regulatory versus legal definition, types of wetlands
• Plant adaptations to wetlands, importance of wetlands, threats to wetlands
• Environmental assessment, mitigation, enhancement, and creation of wetlands
• Plot sampling methods
• Transect sampling methods
• Plotless sampling methods
• The vegetative plant body
• Hydrophyte anatomy
• Reproduction (sexual versus vegetative)
• Midterm examination
• Carnivory
• Biogeography of aquatic plants
• Problems associated with aquatic plants
• The control of aquatic plants
• Pteridophytes
• Phytoplankton (Cyanophyta and Bacillariophyta)
• Dinophyta, Euglenophyta, and Phaeophyta)
• Rhodophyta and Chlorophyta
• Economic aspects of algae
• Algal pollution index
• Control of algae
• Review
• Final examination

• NOTE: Lecture sequence may vary between instructors.

Laboratory Schedule:

• Assignment of wetland delineation project
• Introduction to campus aquatics
• Use of family keys and plant identification
• Plot sampling
• Transect sampling
• Gradient analysis
• Midterm discussion, sampling/gradient analysis discussion
• Carnivory and pollination presentations
• Stem and root anatomy
• Leaf anatomy and adaptations
• Construction and use of dichotomous keys
• Algal identification
• Algal identification
• Algal pollution index
• Final laboratory examination

• NOTE: Laboratory sequence may vary between instructors.

Miscellaneous Related Links:

• Aquatic Ecology Page
• Aquatic Plant Management Society