This course, now in its 61st year, will introduce students to field and laboratory study of freshwater diatoms. We will visit diverse aquatic habitats of the Upper Midwest to make live and fossil collections of most freshwater diatom genera. Students will learn techniques in collection, preparation, and identification of diatoms. Lectures will cover diatom taxonomy, systematics, stream, lake, and wetland ecology, research applications, and bio-geography. Students will assemble individual voucher collections as a means for practicing diatom research and species verification. As a final project, students will complete a taxonomic treatment of a species that will be ready to submit for peer-review to the Diatoms of the North America (diatoms.org).
This is an intensive, field- and lab-oriented class appropriate for advanced undergraduate students, graduate students, and post-graduate workers in geology, ecology and diatom taxonomy. Students are encouraged to bring individual research materials, and there will be opportunities to discuss research approaches and practical problems of using diatoms in ecological and paleo-ecological applications. Two scholarships are available specific to the diatom course; the CW Reimer Scholarship and the EF Stoermer Scholarship, as well a general scholarship is available for room and board. The JC Kingston Fellowship supports a teaching assistant for the class. (see https://iowalakesidelab.org/student-resources for scholarship info). Class size is limited to 10.