Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University

OCNG 654: Fall 2009 Plankton Ecology: Syllabus for Part 1: Phytoplankton

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COURSE SYLLABUS

Outline of the Course (with links to notes by TOPIC and additional Readings by Lecture #) [pdf]

 TEXTBOOK (recommended): Tomas, C. Identifying Marine Phytoplankton, Academic Press

Course Objectives:

1. To provide a basic overview of the taxonomic diversity of marine phytoplankton and zooplankton.
2. To provide a comprehensive review of the physiology, ecology, trophodynamics and production by the phytoplankton and zooplankton.

Learning outcomes:

The knowledge and skills students should acquire by the end of the Phytoplankton course:
1. Recognize major groups of plankton and distinguish important species.
2. Describe methods used to identify and enumerate phytoplankton, measure growth rate, biomass, and production; be able to explain the advantages/limitations of these approaches.
3. Define major physiological properties and ecological features of phytoplankton taxa.  
4. From the oceanographic literature, investigate an individual species/ ecological or physiological topic and present a concise report of findings to the class.

Evaluation:

You MUST have an email account and have access to the WWW.

For the Phytoplankton section of the course, students will be required to participate in laboratories and complete lab writeups. A short research paper (topic with approval of instructor) and presentation to the class (10-min) will also be required. The midterm exam will cover all topics covered in lectures, readings, and laboratories.

Course grades will be based on your percentage of total points possible: A (90 - 100 %); B (80-89 %); C (70 -79 %); D (60-69 %); and F (below 60 %).

Attendance Policy:

Attendance at lectures is strongly encouraged since both lecture and reading materials will be included on examinations. You must be present on the day and time of the examination to receive a grade. In case of emergencies, see Student Handbook.

Copyright Notice and Plagiarism Warning

All materials generated specifically for this course, quizzes, exams, syllabi, in-class materials, review sheets and any problem sets--"handouts"-- are copyrighted. Because all handout materials are copyrighted, you do not have the right to copy any handout, unless we expressly grant permission.

You are expected to cite (acknowledge authorship) any material you quote or use in completing assignments for this class. Failure to attribute or assign proper authorship constitutes plagiarism, which is not acceptable. Please consult the Aggie Honor Code website to clarify what academic integrity means: http://www.tamu.edu/aggiehonor/.

 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA):

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact Disability Services, in Cain Hall, Room B118, or call 845-1637.  For additional information visit http://disability.tamu.edu

[Outline] [Objectives] [Evaluation] [Policies]