Biology 392
POLLUTION BIOLOGY

1. Catalog Entry

Biology 392. Pollution Biology
Three hours lecture, three hours lab (4).

Prerequisites: 8 credits of Biology and 8 credits of Chemistry, or permission of instructor

Designed to provide Biology majors with an understanding of important pollution problems facing society, and to provide the student with practical experience in environmental sampling and analysis.

2. Detailed Description of Content of Course

I. Lecture Outline

A. Definition of Pollution

1. Point source
2. Non-point source

B. Types of Pollutants: sources and environmental effects

1. Organic chemicals (pesticides)
2. Heavy metals
3. Siltation
4. Biochemical Oxygen Demand (B.O.D.) Loading
5. Acid deposition
6. Smog
7. Radioactive wastes

C. Evaluating impacts of pollutants

1. Air pollution
2. Ground water
3. Lotic freshwater
4. Lentic freshwater
5. Oceans and estuaries

D. Specific techniques

1. Chemical analyses
2. Bioassay

a. field
b. laboratory

3. Biomonitoring
4. Biotic factors

a. indicator organisms
b. species diversity

II. Laboratory Outline

A. Recording keeping

1. Field notes
2. Lab notes
3. Chain of evidence documents

B. Sample collection

1. Water

a. surface
b. subsurface

2. Plankton
3. Aquatic invertebrates

a. qualitative
b. quantitative

C. Sample handling

1. Preservation
2. Labelling
3. Storage

D. Sample analysis

1. Water chemical methods

a. field

1. dissolved oxygen
2. temperature
3. hardness/alkalinity
4. pH

b. laboratory (demonstration)

1. heavy metals (atomic absorption spectrophotometry)
2. pesticides (gas chromatography)
3. others (mass spectrophotometry)

2. Benthic invertebrate samples

a. identification
b. enumeration

3. Bacteriological analyses

a. total coliform count
b. fecal coliform count

E. Other field methods

1. Turbidity
2. Biochemical Oxygen Demand (B.O.D.)

F. Toxicity testing (Daphnia magna)

1. Daphnia culture
2. 24 hour static bioassay techniques

G. Additional Field Trips

1. Local sewage treatment facility
2. Water treatment facility
3. Hydroelectric plant

H. Data Analysis (Computer Learning Lab)

1. Tabulation
2. Statistical analysis

3. Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

This is a "hands-on" course in environmental assessment of pollution. Students will put information learned in lecture and outside readings to use in laboratory exercises and experiments. Laboratory work will include a number of field trips.

4. Goals and Objectives of Course

Having successfully completed this course, the student will be able to:

1. Identify and discuss major sources of pollution in the environment.
2. Read and interpret scientific articles dealing with pollution problems.
3. Interpret data gathered during environmental monitoring studies.
4. Design sampling programs designed to address specific environmental problems.
5. Collect samples associated with water quality assessment.
6. Write a laboratory report.

5. Assessment Measures

1. Examinations. Students will normally take three written exams plus a comprehensive final.
2. Laboratory. Students will be graded on completion of all laboratory assignments and weakly lab reports.
3. Class participation. Students will be expected to participate in class discussion of reading assignments. A portion of their grade will reflect this participation.
4. Other assignments. Students will occasionally be given homework assignments and quizzes, which will contribute towards their grade.

6. Other Course Information
7. Review and Approval

DATE ACTION REVIEWED BY
September 2001 Dr. Charles M. Neal, Chair