From the mountains to the sea, a network of 30,000 miles of freshwater streams meanders through Maine’s forests, fields, and towns. Harboring many fascinating plants and animals, these complex waterways are intimately connected to the land around them. In many ways, the health of our streams affects the health of our estuaries and the Gulf of Maine.
This course covers the basics of stream ecology: exploring the interplay among the biological, chemical, and physical attributes of streams and their interconnectedness. From alewives to zooplankton, we’ll discuss life histories, food webs, pollution tolerance, and more. Methods for measuring and assessing stream ecological conditions will be presented. The course will also include a discussion of how our lifestyles affect streams and their watersheds. We’ll wrap up with an analysis of stream restoration and protection techniques. Through at least one field trip to a local stream for field observations and sampling, students are encouraged to explore, get wet, and have fun!
Instructor Dan Boward has a B.S. in Zoology from the University of Maryland and an M.S. in Environmental Science and Policy from Johns Hopkins University. He has taught graduate-level courses at Johns Hopkins and Towson University in Baltimore. His career of 34 years with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources focused on aquatic ecology, environmental assessment, stream monitoring, and environmental education. Dan co-managed the nationally recognized Maryland Biological Stream Survey and led the State’s benthic macroinvertebrate monitoring programs — including the statewide volunteer program, Maryland Stream Waders. Dan lives in New Harbor and he enjoys sloshing around in the Pemaquid River whenever possible.