Course Name:
LAKE ECOLOGY, BIOE 453, 3 credits, Monday–Friday full days

Location (Field Station):
Flathead Lake Biological Station, University of Montana, east shore of Flathead Lake, Montana, USA

Start Date:
08/01/2022

End Date:
08/12/2022

Course Description:
Prerequisites: One year of college-level biology, chemistry, and mathematics, and an ecology course or consent of instructor. This course examines physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of lake ecosystems; also how physical processes—circulation and stratification, nutrient loading and cycling, primary and secondary production and food web interactions, and the role of atmospheric and land use/watershed—affect water quality. This course focuses on functional relationships and productivity of plant and animal assemblages in lakes as regulated by physical, chemical and biotic processes. Fundamental concepts of ecology as they relate to the aquatic environment are emphasized. Limnological principles are presented within the context of regional and landscape spatial scales. Students learn basic and contemporary methods of study in field settings potentially including Flathead Lake, glacial lakes of Glacier National Park and Swan Valley, and nutrient rich lakes. Emphasis is directed toward experiential learning and obtaining hands-on examination and characterization of lakes that will serve the student well throughout their career. Instructor – Dr. Shawn Devlin, FLBS-U of Montana (flbs.umt.edu/urls/people)

Web Address of Course Info:
https://flbs.umt.edu/apps/education/

Contact (Name and email):
Marie Kohler [email protected] 406-872-4515