Class Syllabus
ENVR-6003-01
SYLLABUS 2005
Jerry L. Farris, Professor of Environmental Biology
538 LSW
Phone 972-2007, jlfarris@astate.edu
Posted office hours MTW 1-3
Aquatic Ecotoxicology ENVR 6003-01
4-6:45, Tuesday, LSW 437
DESCRIPTION: A study of the effects of contaminants in water, their
accumulation in the biota, and the functional response of populations to
specific contaminants. Lecture three hours per week. Prerequisites: BIOL 5363,
or BIOL 6301, or permission of the instructor.
Required Text: Principles of Ecotoxicology, C.H. Walker et al., 2001
Course Outline
I. Introduction
a. Historic need and development of the field of
study Aug 23
b. Principles of ecology related to impact assessment
Aug 30
II. Physical Properties of Water and Sediments, Media exchange
a. Effects upon biotic interactions
Sept 6
b. Structuring of habitats and ecology of systems
Sept 13
III. Levels of Organization in the Study of Ecotoxicology
a. Signs and measurements of ecotoxicology
Sept 20
b. Aquatic toxicology testing
methods
Sept 20
c. Sediment toxicity testing issues and methods
Sept 27
d. Model aquatic ecosystems in ecotoxicological research Sept 27
e. Identification and use of biomonitoring data
Oct 4
EXAM
1
Oct 4
Assigned Student led
seminars Oct 11
IV. Contaminant Sources and Effects
a. Pesticides
Oct 18
b. Mining and acid deposition
Oct 25
c. Petroleum and PAHs
Oct 25
d.
Metals
Nov 1
e. Metals,
cont'd
Nov 1
f. Nutrients and CAFOs
Nov 8
g. PCBs, dioxins, dibenzofurans
Nov 8
EXAM 2
Nov 15
V. Case Histories
a. Agricultural drainwater
effects
Nov 15
b. Criteria and
Modeling
Nov 22
c. Restoration ecology and
recovery
Nov 29
d. Environmental estrogens
Dec 6
e. Summary seminars
Dec 6
FINAL
Dec 8-14
Grade is based on two 100 point exams, a comprehensive 200 point final exam,
participation in seminar discussions, leading one seminar, and contribution to
an ecotoxicology reference manual. The seminar requirements include a handout
with assigned readings and questions before the presentation and the presenter
is responsible for a one page summary at the end of the semester.
ASU ACADEMIC POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Class Attendance Policy
Students should attend every lecture, recitation, and laboratory session of
every course in which they are enrolled. Students who miss a class session
should expect to make up missed work or receive a failing grade on missed work.
It is the practice of Arkansas State University to allow students to participate
in university-sponsored events, even when those events cause them to be absent
from class. Students participating in university-sponsored events will be given
reasonable opportunities to make up missed assignments and exams.
Students enrolled in freshman or sophomore level courses numbered 1000 or 2000
may during a semester miss no more than twice the number of lectures,
recitations, laboratory sessions, or other regularly scheduled class activities
that would normally be scheduled during a week. Students who miss more than the
maximum number of freshman or sophomore level classes may be assigned a grade of
"F" for the course. Students who may be assigned a grade of
"F" in a course because of excessive absences may withdraw from the
course without penalty before the deadline for dropping an individual course.
In determining whether excessive absences should result in a failing grade,
consideration shall be given to the maturity and class standing of the student,
the quality of academic work being accomplished by the student, and extenuating
circumstances related to such absence.
Students enrolled in junior or senior level courses numbered 3000 or 4000 will
not be assigned a grade of "F" solely for failing to attend classes.
However, students should contact the instructor for any make-up tests prior to
the listed test date, unless an emergency occurs and the student must contact
the instructor at the earliest possible time. Makeup exams may differ from exams
assigned on the class schedule. All makeup exams must be scheduled with the
instructor prior to the end of semester.
Inclement Weather Policy
The university remains open for academic classes and all other services during
inclement weather except in extreme circumstances determined solely by the
president of the university. Regional and local news media will publicize the
closing.
Commuter students are encouraged to use good judgment in deciding whether to
drive to campus during inclement weather. In those cases where the decision is
made not to travel to campus under this policy, it is the responsibility of the
student to immediately contact each of his/her professors upon return to explain
the circumstances and to determine the need to complete any missed assignments.
The student is responsible for all missed assignments during inclement weather
within a time frame to be determined by the professor.
Academic Integrity Policy
Arkansas State University enthusiastically promotes academic integrity and
professional ethics among all members of the ASU academic community. Violations
of this policy are considered as serious misconduct and may result in
disciplinary action and severe penalties.
A. Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the act of taking and/or using the ideas, work, and/or writings of
another person as one's own.
1. To avoid plagiarism, give written credit and acknowledgment to the source of
thoughts, ideas, and/or words, whether you have used direct quotation,
paraphrasing, or just a reference to a general idea.
2. If you directly quote works written by someone else, enclose the quotation
with quotation marks and provide an appropriate citation (e.g., footnote,
endnote, bibliographical reference).
3. Research as well as the complete written paper, must be the work of the
person seeking academic credit for the course. (Papers, book reports,
projects, and/or other class assignments are not to be purchased from
individuals or companies which provide these services.)
Discipline: Faculty members may respond to cases of plagiarism in any of the
following ways:
1. Return the paper or other item for rewriting; the grade may be lowered.
2. Give a failing grade on the paper or other item - "F" if a letter
grade is used
or zero if a numerical grade is used.
3. Give the student who plagiarized a failing grade in the course.
4. Recommend sanctions, including disciplinary expulsion from the university.
(See page 29 of the Student Handbook, 1999-2000 for procedural details.)
B. Cheating
Cheating is an act of dishonesty with the intention of obtaining and/or using
information in a fraudulent manner.
1. Observing and/or copying from another student's test paper, reports,
computer files, and/or other class assignments.
2. Giving or receiving assistance during an examination period. (This includes
providing specific answers to subsequent examinees and/or dispensing or
receiving information which would allow the student to have an unfair
advantage in the examination over students who did not possess such
information.)
3. Using class notes, outlines, and other unauthorized information during an
examination period.
4. Using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting, in part or
entirety,
the contents of an examination or other assignment not authorized by the
professor of the class.
5. Using for credit in one class a term paper, book report, project, or class
assignment written for credit in another class without the knowledge and
permission of the professor of the class.
6. Exchanging places with another person for the purposes of taking an
examination or completing other assignments.
Discipline: Faculty members may respond to cases of cheating in any of the
following ways:
1. Allow the testing to progress without interruption, informing the offending
student about the offense, - and award a failing grade on the test -
"F" if a
letter grade is used or zero if a numerical grade is used.
2. Seize the test of the offending student and give a failing grade on the
paper.
3. Give the offending student a failing grade in the course.
4. Recommend sanctions, including disciplinary expulsion from the university.