Lake Ecosystems (EES-384, 4 credits)
Decription the of Facilities and Application Process 

Lehigh University's Aquatic Ecosystems Program is pleased to offer its Lake Ecosystems field course during the coming spring & summer.  The course will be held at the Lacawac Sanctuary and Lake Lacawac, 75 miles northeast of the Lehigh campus.  The residential course runs for three weeks and students will earn a total of four credits.  The program begins with Sunday picnic dinner and organizational meeting at the lake in Mid-May, and ends three weeks later on a Saturday in early June.  The instructors will be Dr. Bruce Hargreaves and Dr. Robert Moeller from Lehigh University's Department of Earth and Environmental Science.

The field course will introduce students to the theory and practice of studying lake ecosystems, with special emphasis on using advanced instrumentation and computers to conduct team-based investigations and to present results to the group.  The lectures and investigations will introduce topics and techniques for analyzing lake ecosystem.  Special emphasis on ultraviolet radiation and its penetration into lakes reflects our current research.  The course is organized around three weekly topics:

Students will be engaged in course activities approximately 50 hours per week (typically ending at lunch on Saturday) in a schedule that includes periods of laboratory and field work interspersed with lectures, computer analysis, and student presentations.  For the balance of each weekend, students are encouraged to take advantage of the beautiful setting and the opportunities for boating, birding, fishing, or just relaxing.  No classes will be held on the last Monday in May, the Memorial Day holiday.

This course is part of a program of study of aquatic ecosystems in which a "comparative lakes" approach is being used to reveal the present-day natural processes in lakes throughout the world as well as the effects of past climate change.  We are also investigating the effects of human populations.  The Poconos represent a region with tremendous development pressure to accommodate the vacation interests of large urban populations nearby.  Lake Lacawac is unique as a protected pristine glacial lake near the southern extent of the last glaciation thousands of years ago.  We compare Lake Lacawac with other lakes, some impacted by nutrient input from a populated watershed. Other course topics include acid deposition and predictions concerning the impact of ozone depletion.  As a result of the funding we have obtained to support both graduate and undergraduate research experiences at Lacawac, we have accumulated valuable data on seasonal and inter-annual changes in three lakes since 1988.  We have been collecting data from an electronic weather station (which also measures lake properties) since 1992, and one that measures solar ultraviolet data since 1993.


Catalog Course Description
EES 384. Lake Ecosystems (4 credits)  Advanced concepts and methods in
lake ecosystem ecology.  The course provides a theoretical framework but emphasizes hands-on laboratory and field techniques for measurement of physical, chemical, and biologicalproperties of aquatic ecosystems.  This 3-week residential field course is offered at the Lacawac Sanctuary field station in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. Prerequisite: EES 31 and EES 251 or consent of instructors.  Enrollment limited to 12 students.  Instructors:  Hargreaves, Morris and Moeller.


Course Accommodations
Students live in an Adirondacks-style lodge setting in an oak and hemlock forest rich with wildlife and a few steps from Lake Lacawac (a 15-minute hike brings you to swimming and fishing on L. Wallenpaupack). Rooms are double-occupancy.  [information on what to bring]


Travel to Lacawac
Students are responsible for their own transportation.  Ride sharing with other students or with instructors has been arranged frequently in the past.  We normally avoid the weekend traffic by the schedule of our class (avoid traveling TO the Poconos Friday PM and Saturday AM; avoid traveling FROM the Poconos Sunday PM).  While having a personal car is not essential, it is certainly more convenient (again, sharing is the norm).  A map with directions for driving is available.


Eligibility, Application Procedure, Cost
Applicants are accepted at any time but early acceptance will be announced at the time of Lehigh's preregistration week in April.  Those applying after this date will be accepted as space is available.  Non-Lehigh students will be directed to the Summer Sessions Office for processing of course registration.  All students will be given a "Costs and Conditions of Participation Form" which must be signed and returned before the course start date.

The total cost for an undergraduate that is indicated above includes Lehigh tuition for 4 semester credit hours plus lodging and a nominal lab fee.  Not included are meals (we will shop and cook cooperatively), books, other incidentals, and travel costs. The tuition and fees for the course must be paid within 30 days of the billing date but no later than the start of classes.

Enrollment will be limited to 12 students and personal communication with the instructors is recommended. This course is open to undergraduate students who have completed their sophomore or junior year or seniors who are continuing for a fifth year.  It is also open to, and highly recommended for, beginning graduate students.  Prior course work in ecology or environmental science is recommended although strong experience in an introductory biology course covering ecology andenvironmental science is adequate.  For those students who are eligible, financial assistance may be available.  Please contact one of the instructors for more information

(updated 30 October /03, brh)