Biology 3222G - Special Topics
Ecology of Freshwater and Marine
Environments Winter 2017
Course Syllabus
Course Description
This course examines water as a habitat for life and the ecology of freshwater and
marine environments. In particular, we will examine the role of aquatic ecosystems in
global and local biogeochemical cycles, including climate change, ocean acidification,
and eutrophication. Emphasis will be placed on the protists, bacteria, viruses that make
up the bulk of the biomass in aquatic environments.
Prerequisites
A minimum mark of 60% in Biology 1001A or 1201A and Biology 1002B or 1202B and at
least one half course in Biology at the 2200 level or above, or permission of the
Department.
Lectures: Wednesdays 9:30–11:30 am and Fridays 9:30 - 10:30 am in AHB 2B04
Instructor: Dr. Vera Tai
office: BGS 2028
e-mail: [email protected]
Course Resources
Website: https://owl.uwo.ca/
Students should check OWL on a regular basis for course content, news and updates.
This is the primary method by which information will be disseminated to all students in
the class. Students are responsible for checking OWL on a regular basis.
There is no textbook. Readings and other resources will be posted on OWL.
The textbook “Marine Ecology: Processes, Systems, and Impacts” (M. J. Kaiser et al.
2011) will be placed on reserve for this class in the Taylor Library as a supplementary
resource.
Biol 3222G – Winter 2017
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Evaluation
Course Component
Weight
Description
Participation
10%
attendance and participation in group activities
Assignments/Activities
20%
weekly or biweekly assignments
Essay Outline
5%
due March 3
Midterm
20%
multiple choice and short answer, Wednesday Feb 15th
make-up - Tuesday February 28th
Essay
20%
due April 7th, ~ 2000 words
Final Exam
25%
multiple choice and short answer, scheduled by the registrar
Essay
Students can choose a topic from a list of ideas, or students may choose their own topic
in aquatic ecology with approval by the course instructor. Each student will write an
essay (a mini-review or synthesis) on their selected topic (~ 2000 words, 9 pages
double spaced) citing at least 5 primary references. More detailed instructions will be
provided.
Accessibility
Please contact the course instructor if you require lecture or printed material in an
alternate format or if any other arrangements can make this course more accessible to
you. You may also wish to contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) at
661-2111 ext. 82147 if you have questions regarding accommodation.
Support Services
Learning-skills counsellors at the Student Development Centre (http://www.sdc.uwo.ca)
are ready to help you improve your learning skills. They offer presentations on
strategies for improving time management, multiple-choice exam preparation/writing,
textbook reading, and more. Individual support is offered throughout the Fall/Winter
terms in the drop-in Learning Help Centre, and year-round through individual
counselling.
Students who are in emotional/mental distress should refer to Mental Health@Western
(http://www.health.uwo.ca/mental_health) for a complete list of options about how to
obtain help.
Additional student-run support services are offered by the USC, http://westernusc.ca/
services.
The website for Registrarial Services is http://www.registrar.uwo.ca.
Biol 3222G – Winter 2017
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Course Components
No electronic devices may be in your possession during tests and exams.
It is Faculty of Science policy that a student who chooses to write a test or exam deems
themselves fit enough to do so, and the student must accept the mark obtained. Claims
of medical, physical, or emotional distress after the fact will not be considered.
Scholastic offences are taken seriously and students are directed to read the
appropriate policy, specifically, the definition of what constitutes a Scholastic Offence, at
this website: http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/
scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf.
All required papers may be subject to submission for textual similarity review to the
commercial plagiarism detection software under license to the University for the
detection of plagiarism. All papers submitted for such checking will be included as
source documents in the reference database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of
papers subsequently submitted to the system. Use of the service is subject to the
licensing agreement, currently between The University of Western Ontario and
Turnitin.com (http://www.turnitin.com).
Late Course Components
Assignments, essay outline, and essay must be handed in on the appropriate due date
unless a valid excuse is provided through your academic counsellor (see below). Late
submissions will be subjected to a removal of 10% of the total grade per day for each
day that it is late.
Missed Course Components
If you are unable to meet a course requirement due to illness or other serious
circumstances, you must provide valid medical or supporting documentation to the
Academic Counselling Office of your home faculty as soon as possible. Please also
inform your instructor ([email protected]).
If you are a Science student, the Academic Counselling Office of the Faculty of Science
is located in WSC 140, and can be contacted at 519-661-3040 or [email protected].
Their website is http://www.uwo.ca/sci/undergrad/academic_counselling/index.html.
A student requiring academic accommodation due to illness must use the Student
Medical Certificate (https://studentservices.uwo.ca/secure/medical_document.pdf) when
visiting an off-campus medical facility.
For further information, please consult the university’s medical illness policy at http://
www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/accommodation_medical.pdf.
If you miss the mid-term (February 15th, 9:30 am), the make-up is scheduled for
February 28th (time and location, TBA).
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If you miss the Final Exam, please contact your faculty’s Academic Counselling Office
as soon as you are able to do so. They will assess your eligibility to write the Special
Exam (the name given by the university to a makeup Final Exam).
You may also be eligible to write the Special Exam if you are in a “Multiple Exam
Situation” (see http://www.registrar.uwo.ca/examinations/exam_schedule.html).
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Course Schedule
This schedule for course topics may be adjusted to accommodate lecture progress or
modified based on class interest or developments in the field.
Dates
January 6
Topic(s)
Introduction
January 11-13
Why we need water, water chemistry
January 18 - 20
Life in aquatic environments, aquatic biomes
January 25 - 27
Phytoplankton, photosynthesis, primary production
February 1
Microbes and the microbial loop
February 3
Guest Lecture - Dr. Graeme Taylor, coral reefs
February 8 - 10
Biological pump and other nutrient cycles
February 15
Midterm - in class
February 17
Flex day
February 20 - 24
Reading Week - no classes
February 28
Midterm make-up - time and location, TBA
March 1 - 3
Ocean acidification
Essay Outline, hard copy due in class March 3
March 8 - 10
Non-sunlit ecosystems and other kinds of primary production
March 15 - 17
Freshwater ecosystems
March 22
Guest Lecture - Dr. Charlie Trick, marine algal blooms and
toxins
March 24
Guest Lecture - Dr. Irena Creed, freshwater algal blooms
and toxins
March 29-31
April 5-7
April 9 - 30
Biol 3222G – Winter 2017
What’s in the news? notable topics - eg. hydrothermal
vents, ecotoxicology
Fisheries, invasive species, conservation
Essay, hard copy due in class April 7
April Exam Period
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