I. Textbook:

No manditory textbook
Others on reserve include:
 

1)  Gibert, J., D.L. Danielopol and J.A. Stanford. 1994.
    Groundwater Ecology. Academic Press, New York

2)  Chapelle, F. 1992. Ground-water Microbiology and
     Geochemistry. Wiley, New York.

3)   Ford, D.  and P. Williams. 1989.  Karst Geomorphology
       and Hydrology. Unwin Hyman, Boston, 601 pp.

4)  White , W.B. 1988.  Geomorphology and Hydrology of
        Karst Terrrains. Oxford University Press, New York, 464 pp.
 

For more information see Textbooks

II. Class Notes::

A copy of the class notes is required for the course.  Hard copies of the
notes are available on reserve in Newman Library and may be photocopied
as needed. Class notes are also available on the course homepage as MS
Word (Office 97) files that may be downloaded from the web site
(Gwecol Notes) constructed forclass materials.  Please note that figure quality
is reduced by photocopying, butis still appropriate for use.  Better figure quality
is available from the MS Word files. NOTE:It is important to have these notes
in hand during lecture.  You will need to have the appropriate username and
password (available from the instructor) to access the notes.

These notes and other general  information about the course can be obtained from

http://www.biol.vt.edu/department/research/faculty/valett/gwecol
 

III. Grading: Basis for Scores

Course grades will be derived from two areas:

 A) Participation (20%): This will include in-class interaction and participation
      in the evening literature seminars.
 B) In-class Examinations (60%): Four in-class exams will be given during
      the scheduled class hours.  The lowest exam score will be discarded.  As
      a result, all regular exams are optional.  The final exam is manditory, will
      be comprehensive and will be averaged with the three regular exams to
     provide this portion of the course grade.
 C) Class notebook (20%): Class notes and literature reviews/discussion will be summarized
       in a class notebook that will be turned in and graded during class exam.
 D) Field Trip: Depending upon interest and scheduling,
                        a trip to local field sites may be arranged.

IV. Syllabus:        see Syllabus

 A) Fundamentals of Groundwater Ecosystems:
                     A review of ecosystem ecology
 B) Karst Systems & Caves:
                    Geomorphology, geochemistry, hydrology & ecology
 C) Alluvial Aquifers:
                    Surface/groundwater interaction
 D) Terrestrial aquifers, Riparian Zones, Lakes,
                    Wetlands, Bioremediation & Management
 

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