The syllabus from Fall 2008 course follows. Due to an upcoming sabbatical, Dr. Carlin will probably teach this course in Fall 2014.


The Facts

Lecture: Mon Wed Fri 9-9:50 a.m.; Lab: Mon 1:30-4:20 p.m.

Prerequisites: BIO-101, BIO-102, BIO-201, BIO-202, CHE-107 and CHE-141

Required Texts: Limnology 1st Ed., 2002, by Jacob Kalff. Additional required readings will be posted on Moodle.

Optional Texts:

Offered: alternate years in the fall

For questions, contact Dr. Carlin at jcarlin@gac.edu.


Course description

A study of the distribution, ecology and adaptations of organisms living in freshwater aquatic habitats. Laboratory work explores water quality, the ecology of aquatic organisms and community structure with an emphasis upon aquatic habitat sampling, conservation and management. Both lecture and laboratory stresses quantitative skills and experimental design.



Course Goals

  • To survey the major groups of aquatic habitats, organisms, and nutrients as well as to examine their roles in lakes, rivers and streams
  • To be able to recognize on sight important aquatic organisms
  • To explore some of the unique environmental problems dealing with aquatic environments
  • To increase personal comfort and skill with quantitative methods in ecology
  • To increase personal comfort and skill with scientific literacy


Course Assessment

There are 200 points in the course, made up of the following:

Lecture Exams (3 X 45 points each)

Exams will cover material highlighted in lecture and detailed in the accompanying textbook readings for that section. Exams will include fill in the blank, multiple choice and short answer questions. I expect you not only to recall what you’ve studied but to also be able to synthesize and apply ideas. Memorizing the book will not guarantee you an A !!!


Homeworks and Written Assignments (points vary per assignment)

You will turn in two drafts (totalling 25 points) of a lab report comparing two of the many habitats we will visit. You will be graded on your argumentation, statistics, presentation and writing ability.

Some of the lecture class periods include case studies in which 1-2 students will choose scientific papers to present to the class and moderate a discussion. I will conduct the first case study to provide an example of my expectations.

Finally, many of the topics and some of the homework will often be mathematical in nature, and you are expected to have access to a good scientific calculator.


Participation (10 points):

The laboratories should be very active, but their success depends partially on you. As in any scientific endeavor, lab success requires that every person stay alert, organized, and inquisitive. Leaving equipment behind, distracting others from learning, behavior that causes personal risk to self or others will NOT be tolerated.



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Sampling local lakes for plankton.








Sorting benthic samples for invertebrates.








The Seven Mile Creek Watershed is a typical hypereutrophic stream system. Nicollet County, 2007.








Surber sampling in area streams.