Edward J. Buskey

Edward J. Buskey, Ph.D.

Planktonic Processes MNS 383

Advanced study of the processes affecting the distribution and abundance of marine planktonic organisms, primary and secondary production in marine planktonic environments, and trophic interactions between planktonic species.

Course Name: Planktonic Processes
Course No.: MNS 383

Term: Spring 2008

Unique No.: 57615

Meeting Time: MW 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon

Meeting Room: MSI - Video Classroom, ACES 3.336

Instructors:

1^st half: Tracy A. Villareal: t.villareal@mail.utexas.edu 361-749-6732
2^nd half: Edward J. Buskey: ed.buskey@mail.utexas.edu 361-749-6794

Office hours by appointment.

Lecture	Date	Topic	Readings
1	01/14/08	Introduction, components	List 1
2	01/16/08	Components, pigments, Life cycles, parasites	List 2
	01/21/08	Martin Luther King Day, Holiday
3	01/23/08	Photosynthesis	List 3
4	01/28/08	Nutrients	List 4
5	01/30/08	Primary production, global patterns-class presentations	List 5
6	02/04/08	Methodologies-class presentations	List 6
7	02/06/08	Growth rate and cell cycle-class presentations	List 7
8	02/11/08	Measures of physiological health-class presentations	List 8
9	02/13/08	Physics of small cells, aggregation, patchiness	List 9
10	02/18/08	New production, f ratios, nitrogen fixation	List 10
11	02/20/08	Trace Metals	List 11
12	02/25/08	Suspension	List 12
13	02/27/08	Succession, seasonal cycles, Allelopathy-class presentation	List 13
14	03/03/08	Harmful algal blooms	List 14
15	03/05/08	Exam 1
	03/10-14/08	Spring Break
16	03/17/08	Collecting, sampling zooplankton	Harris, Ch. 2, 3
17	03/19/08	Protozoan Groups	Fenchel, Ch. 2, 3, 8.2
18	03/24/08	Metazoan Groups	Miller, Ch. 6; Mauchline, Ch. 2
19	03/26/08	Feeding in crustacean zooplankton	Mauchline, Ch. 5
20	03/31/08	Respiration, energetics, metabolism	Mauchline, Ch. 6
21	04/02/08	Mating, Reproduction	Mauchline, Ch. 8
22	04/07/08	Secondary Production	Mauchline, Ch. 9
23	04/09/08	Population Biology, Genetics	Mauchline, Ch. 10
24	04/14/08	Sensory Perception and Behavior	Mauchline, Ch. 11
25	04/16/08	Biogeography, Distribution	Mauchline, Ch. 12, 13
26	04/21/08	Larval Ecology	Reserve Readings
27	04/23/08	Gelatinous Zooplankton	Reserve Readings
28	04/28/08	Bioluminescence in Zooplankton	Reserve Readings
29	04/30/08	Role of grazers in HAB's	Reserve Readings

Final exam will cover only the 2^nd half of the course.

Course Content and grading:
First half (Villareal)
5% Exercises, 20% 1^st Exam, 10% presentation

Students will be required to prepare a 60 min lecture on an assigned topic. This will be a team effort of two students per lecture. A discussion will follow (15-20 minutes). A set of seed readings will be provided but the most successful students will explore this area on their own.

Reading lists and selected PDF files will be posted on Blackboard for this half of the class.

Second half (Buskey):
30% 1^st Exam, 5% participation

Comprehensive Requirement
Term Paper
30%

The term paper will be a 10-15 page paper, 1 inch margins, 12 pt. Font (Geneva or Times), 1.5 spaces on a topic mutually agreed upon by the student and instructors. Students will have a topic by February 13 and an outline by March 27. Drafts will be due by April 14. Final version will be due on April 30. Students are encouraged to explore an area useful to their research. However, a rehash of previously submitted thesis proposals and/or class assignments will not be acceptable. Your work should be your own. This is not a team effort. All excerpted material should be properly referenced. Be very mindful of the line between using material and plagiarism.

Reserve Reading List

Falkowski, P.G. and J.A. Raven. 1997. Aquatic Photosynthesis. Malden, Massachusetts, Blackwell Science.
Fenchel, T. 1987. The ecology of protozoa. Springer-Verlag.
Harris, R.P., et al. 2000. Zooplankton Methodology Manual. Academic Press.
Mauchline, J. 1998. The biology of calanoid copepods. Academic Press.
Miller, C.B. 2004. Biological Oceanography. Blackwell.
Williams, P.J.1.B., D.N. Thomas, et al., Eds. 2002. Phytoplankton Productivity: carbon assimilation in marine and freshwater ecosystems. Malden, MA, Blackwell Science, Ltd.

Additional Course Policies and Procedures

Religious Holiday Observation Policy (see General Information Catalog 2001-2002, pg. 79)
"A student who is absent from a class or examination for the observance of a religious holy day may complete the work missed within a reasonable time after the absence, if proper notice of the planned absences has been given. Notice must be given at least fourteen days prior to the classes scheduled on dates the student will be absent. For religious holy days that fall within the first two weeks of the semester, notice should be given on the first day of the semester. If must be personally delivered to the instructor and signed and dated by the instructor, or sent certified mail, return receipt requested. A student who fails to complete missed work within the time allowed will be subject to the normal academic penalties."

Students with Disabilities
Please notify me of any modification/adaptation you may require to accommodate a disability-related need. You will be requested to provide documentation to the Dean of Students' Office in order that the most appropriate accommodations can be determined. Specialized services are available on campus through Services for Students with Disabilities (SSB 4.104 471-6529).

Policy on Scholastic Dishonesty
Students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and/or dismissal from the University. Since such dishonesty harms the individual, all students, and the integrity of the University, policies on scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced. For further information, please visit the Student Judicial Services web site at: http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs/

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