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fisheries ecology and conservation  
 
   
 
Course Description

This course will provide an overview to the structure and functioning of freshwater and marine aquatic ecosystems, and acquaint students with the basic biology and field techniques required to successfully manage fish populations. In addition, this course will expose students to a number of challenges facing aquatic ecosystems, and will provide an opportunity to discuss activities, approaches and strategies that can be used to solve these challenges. While many examples and scenarios discussed will be based on local/regional issues, the course will emphasize a global perspective to aquatic conservation issues and how regional differences in problems and solutions exist. Emphasis will be placed on the importance of using sound science to generate successful management strategies.

Click here to obtain a copy of the class syllabus.

 
Class location & times

Room N107 Turner Hall

Lecture: Monday, Wednesday & Friday from 11:00 am to 11:50 am (N107 Turner Hall)

Discussion period: Wednesday from 12:00 pm (noon) to 12:50 pm (N107 Turner Hall)

Suggested topics for student presentations can be found here.

A rubric for student presentations can be found here.

Information on the class debate can be found here.

 

 
Tentative lecture schedule
   

Date

Day

L/D

Title

Text Chapters

24-Aug

Mon

L

Introduction

26-Aug

Wed

L

Fisheries & management (3 / 6)

24 & 26

26-Aug

Wed

D

Prepare for presentations & discuss assignments

28-Aug

Fri

L

Fish (3 / 6)

31-Aug

Mon

L

Prepare for debate & discuss assignments

2-Sep

Wed

D

Prepare for debate

2-Sep

Wed

L

Prepare for debate

4-Sep

Fri

L

Water & living in water (3 / 6)

7-Sep

Mon

Labor Day – No Class

9-Sep

Wed

L

Lake and river overview (3 / 6)

1

9-Sep

Wed

D

Paper discussion (Paper 1, Paper 2 & Questions)

11-Sep

Fri

L

Aquatic ecosystem structure (3 / 6)

19, 20 & 21

14-Sep

Mon

L

Bioenergetics (3 / 6)

2, 3, 4 & 7

16-Sep

Wed

L

Foraging and Feeding (3 / 6)

8, 11 & 12

16-Sep

Wed

D

Paper discussion (Paper to read & Questions)

18-Sep

Fri

L

Growth (3 / 6)

5 & 6

21-Sep

Mon

L

Growth (3 / 6)

5 & 6

23-Sep

Wed

L

Competition and Patch Use (3 / 6)

10 & 12

23-Sep

Wed

D

Presentations: Genetics, Electroshocking

10 & 12

25-Sep

Fri

L

Life history strategies & reproduction (3 / 6)

16 & 17

28-Sep

Mon

L

Recruitment & population size (3 / 6)

9 & 18

30-Sep

Wed

Exam # 1 (Paper # 1 Due)

2-Oct

Fri

L

Recruitment & population size (3 / 6)

9 & 18

 

5-Oct

Mon

L

Guest Lecture: M. Douglas, Cons. Genetics

 

7-Oct

Wed

L

Stunting (3 / 6)

 

 

7-Oct

Wed

D

Presentations: Otoliths, Health

 

9-Oct

Fri

L

Management & regulations 1 of 2 (1 / 3 / 6)

Kohler&Hubert Ch.2&5

 

12-Oct

Mon

L

Management & regulations 2 of 2 (1 / 3 / 6)

Kohler&Hubert Ch.2&5

 

14-Oct

Wed

L

Habitat & manipulations 1 of 2 (3 / 6)

Kohler&Hubert Ch.9-12

 

14-Oct

Wed

D

Presentations: Macrophytes, Macroinvertebrates

 

16-Oct

Fri

L

Habitat & manipulations 2 of 2 (3 / 6)

Kohler&Hubert Ch.9-12

 

19-Oct

Mon

L

Stocking & hatcheries (3 / 6)

Kohler & Hubert Ch.14

 

21-Oct

Wed

L

Mgmt of rivers & streams (3 / 6)

Kohler&Hubert Ch.18-20

 

21-Oct

Wed

D

Presentations: Telemetry, Habitat

 

23-Oct

Fri

L

Mgmt of reservoirs, lakes & impoundments (3 / 6)

Kohler&Hubert Ch.21-22

 

26-Oct

Mon

L

Presentations: Fish care, Tagging/marking

 

 

28-Oct

Wed

L

Guest Lecture: Greg Sass, Large Rivers & Carp

 

28-Oct

Wed

D

Paper discussion (Paper and Questions)

 

30-Oct

Fri

L

Debate preparation time

 

 

2-Nov

Mon

L

Mgmt of reservoirs, lakes & impoundments (3 / 6)

Kohler&Hubert Ch.21-22

 

4-Nov

Wed

Exam # 2 (Debate references due)

 

6-Nov

Fri

L

Marine fisheries (3 / 6)

 

9-Nov

Mon

L

Chemical inputs & water quality (3 / 6)

Helfman Ch.7

 

11-Nov

Wed

L

Exotic species & threatened species (3 / 6)

Helfman Ch. 8 & 9

 

11-Nov

Wed

D

Presentations: Handling, Creels/surveys

 

13-Nov

Fri

L

Dams and barriers (3 / 6)

Helfman Ch.6

 

16-Nov

Mon

L

Aquaculture (3 / 6)

Helfman Ch.14

 

18-Nov

Wed

L

Protected areas (3 / 6)

 

18-Nov

Wed

D

Presentations: Capture techniques, Habitat Plan

 

20-Nov

Fri

L

Climate change (3 / 6)

 

23-Nov

Mon

Thanksgiving – No Class

 

25-Nov

Wed

 

25-Nov

Wed

 

27-Nov

Fri

 

30-Nov

Mon

L

Ecosystem impacts of fishing

24

 

2-Dec

Wed

Debate

 

4-Dec

Fri

L

Presentations: Hydroacoustics, Safety

 

7-Dec

Mon

L

Recreational fisheries

 

9-Dec

Wed

Exam Review (Final Paper Due)

 

18-Dec

Fri

FINAL EXAM 8:00 am, N107 Turner Hall

 

 

 

Important dates

Date of First Exam: Wednesday September 30th, 2009

Due date of first paper: Wednesday September 30th, 2009 at noon

Date of Second Exam: Wednesday November 4th, 2009

Due date for debate references: Wednesday November 4th, 2009

Last day of class: Wednesday December 9th, 2009

Debate: Wednesday December 2nd, 2009, 11 am until 1 pm, N107 Turner Hall

Due date of final paper: December 9th at 1 pm (End of last class)

Final Exam: 8 am – 11 am, Friday, December 18th, N107 Turner Hall