Freshwater Ecology

This course will combine lectures and discussions to evaluate and synthesize literature on lake, river, wetland and estuarine ecosystems, exposing students to general concepts and current controversies in ecology and evolutionary ecology. Topics will include ecological contexts for natural selection in aquatic biota, impacts of species on ecosystems, cross-ecosystem linkages, consequences of rapid evolution for communities and ecosystems, attempts to balance ecological vs societal demands for freshwater, and factors determining watershed resilience under global change. Students will read 1-2 papers for each meeting, will lead 2 discussions on 1-2 papers during the semester, and will write (and receive feedback on) an 8 page proposal to carry out original research on a topic of their choice in aquatic ecology. Upper division undergraduates are welcome with permission of the instructors.

 

Stable Isotope Ecology

This course focuses on the principles of isotope physiochemistry, behavior, measurements and the application of these principles to relevant ecological patterns and processes in terrestrial, aquatic and marine systems. The first 11-12 weeks of the course will be comprised of lectures covering topics outlined below. In the laboratory section, all students will participate in a set of exercises involving the preparation of samples of choice for isotopic analyses, the used of the mass spectrometer and optical analysis systems, and the analysis of isotopic data. The few weeks of the course will be include presentations of student lab projects and /or specialized lectures focused on specific research projects that have used stable isotopes. The content and scheduling of topics is subject to modification depending on the class interest and emerging topics.

 

Fluvial Geomorphology

Application of fluid mechanics to sediment transport and development of river morphology. Form and process in river meanders, the pool-riffle sequence, aggradation, grade, and baselevel.

 

Introduction to Aquatic and Marine Geochemistry

Introduction to marine geochemistry: the global water cycle; processes governing the distribution of chemical species within the hydrosphere; ocean circulation; chemical mass balances, fluxes, and reactions in the marine environment from global to submicron scales; carbon system equilibrium chemistry and biogeochemistry of fresh and salt walter; applications of natural and anthropogenic stable and radioactive tracers; internal ocean processes.