Biology 3850A Aquatic Ecology

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Biology 3850A Aquatic Ecology Time
Monday/Wednesday/Friday 1000-1050 AM, Jan
07-Apr 17, 2009 Place WE 1001 Instructor Dr.
Joseph B. Rasmussenoffice hours by
appt. Professor, Department of Biological
Sciences Canada Research Council Chair in
Aquatic Ecosystems Office WE1050 WESB Phone
[phone] Email joseph.rasmussen_at_uleth.ca
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Lab Assignments8 each I The watershed and
stream dynamics II. Morphometry and dynamics of
lakes III Primary production calculation of 1o
productivity IV. Phosphorus loading models and
eutrophication V. Secondary producers fish
productivity and management
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Aquatic Ecosystems Definition of
Eco-system System many components functionally
interacting most of these components are living
organisms genetically unique and always changing
(evolution) Composed of the biological community
(many species populations) Interacting with the
physical world Aquatic and terrestrial
ecosystems are very different in their physical
character and this has a major impact on the way
nutrients cycle as well as on the types of
organisms that are found there. -Key physical
processes in aquatic systemsflow and
sedimentation (mud) -flow brings nutrients into
the system from the surrounding landscape
(watershed), and cause them to be lost as well.
Next people who have played a major role in the
development of Aquatic Ecosystem concepts
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Stephen Forbes,1887 The Lake as a Microcosm
Founder of the Illinois Natural History
Survey Well known for his work on aquatic
insects and fishes, and for his description of
aquatic food chains in small lakes and
ponds. His writings stressed the isolated
autonomous character, the separateness of
lakes/ponds from the surrounding landscape.
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The Productivity of Waters and their Nutrient
status
Einar Naumann
August Thienemann
Founders of the International Association of
Theoretical and Applied Limnology
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The thermal structure and energy budget of lakes,
the thermocline
Edward Birge and Chancey Juday sampling
zooplankton in Lake Mendota, Wisconsin
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Trophodynamic processes Nutrient cycling in lakes
G. Evelyn Hutchinson Yale University
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Charles S. Elton,

• The food pyramid and the trophic web
• also wrote the first book on the ecological
  impacts of exotic species invasions

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Eugene P. Odum, 1913 - 2002.
Odum is widely considered to be the Father of
ecosystem ecology Pioneered research into the
use of radioactive tracers and dissolved oxygen
cycles to study primary production in aquatic
ecosystems.
Author of Fundamentals of Ecology, 1953
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Cedar Bog Lake

• Ph.D 1941 from the University of Minnesota
• died at age 27 but is still remembered for
• The trophic-dynamic aspect of ecology, Ecology
  23 399-418)
• from his thesis work on Cedar Bog, Minnesota.
• This paper has since become the foundation for
  research on the flow of energy in plant and
  animal communities.

Raymond Lindeman 1915-42
energy flow through the foodweb could be analyzed
by dynamic models
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• Ecosystem services that freshwater ecosystems
  provide
• Food
• Water supply for drinking, agriculture and
  industry
• Transport
• Water storage
• Hydroelectric power
• Assimilation of pollutants
• Recreation
• Nutrient transport for fisheries
• Ecosystem services are economically valuable
  services provided free by natural ecosystems.
  By free we mean either at no cost or at a cost
  well below that of a manufactured substitute.

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Transportation of people and goods
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Fouling of beaches by logging operations
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Dams and wiers for hydroelectric power, flood
control, and water storage.
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Waste disposal Domestic and industrial
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Assimilative capacity The sewage treatment
plant downstream from Lethbridge
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Agriculture is the biggest water user of all
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Recreation
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Golf courses are huge water users. The golf
courses are the greenest part of Lethbridge
during the summer