Course Syllabus

Summer 2024 | BIO-2250-VT01 - Freshwater Ecology

In Person Class

Standard courses meet in person at CCV centers, typically once each week for the duration of the semester.

Faculty

Mic Metz
View Faculty Credentials
View Faculty Statement
Hiring Coordinator for this course: Danielle Lafleur Brooks

General Education Requirements

VSCS Natural Science

Note

Many degree programs have specific general education recommendations. In order to avoid taking unnecessary classes, please consult with additional resources like your program evaluation, your academic program catalog year page, and your academic advisor.

Courses may only be used to meet one General Education Requirement.

Course Description

This course is an introduction to the study of aquatic ecosystems including streams, wetlands, and lakes. Topics include watershed processes, biological communities, physical habitats, nutrient cycling, energy flow, and management issues. The course culminates with individual research projects focused on local watersheds. Field trips are required.

Essential Objectives

1. Describe unique aspects of water as an environment.
2. Observe and identify diverse aquatic organisms.
3. Compare biological communities across different aquatic habitats.
4. Explain differences in energy flow patterns among aquatic ecosystems, including those differences highlighted by the river continuum concept.
5. Analyze population changes over time for different aquatic species.
6. Compare patterns of nutrient cycling in lakes, rivers, and wetlands.
7. Articulate ways in which hydrologic processes affect landscapes, from local to global.
8. Assess the health of aquatic habitats based on biological, chemical, and physical indicators, and evaluate how water quality influences ecosystem services for humans.
9. Discuss how laws, politics, and socioeconomic factors prevent or promote human access to clean and healthy aquatic ecosystems, including the Clean Water Act, National Aquatic Invasive Species Act, Vermont’s Wetlands Protection Act and Vermont’s Act 250.
10. Examine the impact of human behavior on freshwater ecosystems and discuss the role that freshwater plays in the biosphere and overall global sustainability.
11. Demonstrate proficiency in understanding, interpreting, applying, and evaluating the accuracy of data and information sources.
12. Explain how knowledge created in the natural sciences has contributed to the creation, maintenance and dismantling of social inequalities and discuss the impacts of diversity and inclusion on scientific research and practice.

Required Technology

More information on general computer and internet recommendations is available on the CCV IT Support page. https://support.ccv.edu/general/computer-recommendations/

Please see CCV's Digital Equity Statement (pg. 45) to learn more about CCV's commitment to supporting all students access the technology they need to successfully finish their courses.

Required Textbooks and Resources

*** This is a no cost textbook or resource class. ***

This course only uses free Open Educational Resources (OER) and/or library materials. For details, see the Canvas Site for this class.

Artificial Intelligence(AI) Policy Statement

CCV recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI tools are widely available and becoming embedded in many online writing and creative applications.

Allowed: This course's generative AI policy acknowledges technology, including generative AI, plays a supportive role in learning and feedback. During our class, we may use AI writing tools such as ChatGPT in certain specific cases. You will be informed as to when, where, and how these tools are permitted to be used, along with guidance for attribution. Any use outside of these specific cases constitutes a violation of CCV's Academic Integrity Policy.

I believe the use of AI to generate a report about your specific study areas would be woefully inaccurate. So rather than prohibiting the use of AI, I would caution you against its use beyond spellcheck, grammar, and GPS or mapping tools ( all of which you should DEFINITELY use).

I think Chat GPT would have a near impossible time generating a Vermont site specific scientific report that wasn't obviously vague and/or imprecise. If you think you can us AI in this way, I welcome you to try, but with this caveat: you must disclose what data you inputted and what parts of your final project are Chat GPT generated.

Methods

Classes begin promptly at 9:00 AM on Friday, usually with our weekly quiz, and last until 12:00 PM, with breaks incorporated. Class will consist of lectures based on the week’s reading, classroom discussions, guest speakers, and field trips to local aquatic habitats. Field trips will involve applying our classroom knowledge to the freshwater environment and may include some vigorous hiking through rugged natural conditions.

Evaluation Criteria

• 20% Homework
• 20% Quizzes
• 20% Attendance and Participation
• 20% Final Exam
• 20% Final Project

Grading Criteria

CCV Letter Grades as outlined in the Evaluation System Policy are assigned according to the following chart:

	High	Low
A+	100	98
A	Less than 98	93
A-	Less than 93	90
B+	Less than 90	88
B	Less than 88	83
B-	Less than 83	80
C+	Less than 80	78
C	Less than 78	73
C-	Less than 73	70
D+	Less than 70	68
D	Less than 68	63
D-	Less than 63	60
F	Less than 60
P	100	60
NP	Less than 60	0

Weekly Schedule

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance and participation in classes are essential for success in and are completion requirements for courses at CCV. A student's failure to meet attendance requirements as specified in course descriptions will normally result in a non-satisfactory grade.

• In general, missing more than 20% of a course due to absences, lateness or early departures may jeopardize a student's ability to earn a satisfactory final grade.
• Attending an on-ground or synchronous course means a student appeared in the live classroom for at least a meaningful portion of a given class meeting. Attending an online course means a student posted a discussion forum response, completed a quiz or attempted some other academically required activity. Simply viewing a course item or module does not count as attendance.
• Meeting the minimum attendance requirement for a course does not mean a student has satisfied the academic requirements for participation, which require students to go above and beyond simply attending a portion of the class. Faculty members will individually determine what constitutes participation in each course they teach and explain in their course descriptions how participation factors into a student's final grade.

Participation Expectations

Three or more unexcused absences will result in a failing grade for this course. If you must miss a class meeting or field trip, you are required to contact me PRIOR to missing class in writing via email or the absence will be recorded as unexcused. Attendance and participation will be twenty percent of your overall grade. Attending the entire class or field trip will result in a grade of 100, excused absences receive partial credit (50), and unexcused absences are recorded as a zero.

Missing & Late Work Policy

Students will need to submit homework assignments either electronically or as a hard copy on the date they are due (no late homework will be accepted). Homework assignments will be graded and returned to the students with the expectation that edits and suggestions will be incorporated into the Final Project.

Experiential Learning Expectations

Hours: 6-10

Field trips to aquatic ecosystems are a required component of this course.

Accessibility Services for Students with Disabilities:

1. Provide disability documentation to the Accessibility Coordinator at your academic center. https://ccv.edu/discover-resources/students-with-disabilities/
2. Request an appointment to meet with accessibility coordinator to discuss your request and create an accommodation plan.
3. Once created, students will share the accommodation plan with faculty. Please note, faculty cannot make disability accommodations outside of this process.

Academic Integrity