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Aquatic Systems -- February 25, 2026
Aquatic Systems -- February 25, 2026
This Week's Topic
This Week's Topic
Aquatic Systems: Ecology and Management- Unit 18 in your textbook Optional quiz
Our Expert on Stage
Our Expert on Stage
Dr. Peter Schulze, professor of Biology & Environmental Science at Austin College, Center for Environmental Studies Director, and Sneed Prairie Restoration Director
Pre-work - Must be completed by class time
Pre-work - Must be completed by class time
Use Lisa's VMS slides to log last week's attendance in VMS
(If you missed class, contact Nancy to schedule a make-up.)
Opportunity: Init Training-Class 03
Date: February 18, 2026
Hours: 3.0
Description: Prairie Ecology with Brandon Belcher
If you attended the field trip to Connemara, log as:
Opportunity: Init Training - Field Trip (A)
Date: February 21, 2026
Hours: 2.5
Description: class field trip to Connemara Meadow Preserve with Bob Mione
Complete your class feedback survey ASAP.
Look through Unit 18 in your textbook. Complete the Optional quiz
Watch these videos:
What is a Watershed? (1:06)
Lake Ecosystems (7:47)
Pond Ecosystems (2:36)
Aquatic Insects in Food Webs (5:21)
Urban stormwater management (11:47)
After completing your pre-work, what water questions do you have for Dr. Schulze? He would like to craft the 2nd half of his presentation around YOUR questions. It can be about water quality, water conservation, stormwater, surface water, ground water, issues and challenges concerning water, etc. You can submit more than one question using this form.
Optional Activities
Optional Activities
Identifying macroinvertebrates (6:35) (optional quiz: ID macroinvertebrates quizlet )
Download A Guide to Freshwater Ecology . This 120-page book is put out by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. If you'd like the hard copy, you can order one for free from the TCEQ here. (They also have a number of other free publications.)
Visit mywaterway.epa.gov and explore the surface water test results in your area
Bring to Class
Bring to Class
Reminders
Reminders
Chapter BioBlitz at Arbor Hills Park in Plano
Chapter BioBlitz at Arbor Hills Park in Plano
Saturday, February 28th
9:00am-1:00pm
Dress for the weather and bring your phone or camera.
Volunteer and Training Opportunities
Volunteer and Training Opportunities
Volunteer Service (VH) Opportunities
Volunteer Service (VH) Opportunities
Texas Stream Team water testing - contact Brittany Hamilton at shioko@gmail.com
Advanced Training (AT) Opportunities
Advanced Training (AT) Opportunities
TPWD's Texas Water Specialist Program Webinar Series:
Tuesday, February 24th, 6:30-7:30pm: The Creek in My Backyard - A Guide to Understanding Stream Regulations in Texas register here
Thursday, March 12th, 6:30-7:30pm: Duck Walk - A Birder's Improbable Path to Hunting as Conservation register here
Wednesday, April 15th, 6:30-7:30pm: 21st Century Texas - Climate, Water, Science, and Society register here
Tuesday, May 12th, 6:30-7:30pm: River Systems Impacted by Floods register here
Tuesday, June 16th, 6:30-7:30pm: How the Texas Litter Database Supports Conservation Action register here
Wednesday, July 15th, 6:30-7:30pm: Conservation Opportunity Areas in Texas register here
Wednesday, August 12th, 6:30-7:30pm: Investing in Texas' Water Future register here
See the chapter calendar for other VHAT opportunities
"Extras" - additional information presented during class
"Extras" - additional information presented during class
Other Aquatic Systems Resources
Other Aquatic Systems Resources
Texas Stream Team - website
River Basins of Texas - The Texas Water Development Board
Texas Riparian and Stream Ecosystem Training - Texas A&M AgriLife self-paced course
Insects and Other Arthropods That Feed on Aquatic and Wetland Plants - USDA paper
The Trinity Coalition - website
Texas Water Development Board - website
John Bunker Sands Wetland Center - website
CLASS MEETING INFORMATION
CLASS MEETING INFORMATION
Meet at the Science Resource Center at the Heard Museum
Week THREE: Wednesday, February 18, 2026
6:00 - 9:00 PM
Class meets IN PERSON
WEEK FOUR CLASS UPDATE
WEEK FOUR CLASS UPDATE
I hope you enjoyed last night’s class with Brandon. His commitment to conserving our prairie remnants is inspiring. You’ll find his slide deck linked in the “extras” section of the prairie class webpage along with Lisa’s Intro to iNaturalist slide deck. Before we pivot to water…
A few of you mentioned that the page numbers did not match up for the open-book prairie quiz in last week’s pre-work. The open-book quiz was for the linked pages from Flora of North Central Texas, not the TMN textbook. If you take another look at #3 on your prairie pre-work list, you’ll see the link for p. 20-42. 🙂
Week Four: Feb 19 - Feb 25
Pre-Work:
Get ready for next week's aquatic systems class by completing the pre-work prior to Wednesday. Don’t forget that completing your feedback survey is part of your pre-work.
Dr. Schulze would like to craft the 2nd half of his presentation around YOUR questions. It can be about water quality, water conservation, stormwater, surface water, ground water, issues and challenges concerning water, etc. You can submit more than one question using this form. Please submit your question(s) by Sunday night so he has time to incorporate them in his presentation.
VMS:
Please log your hours quickly and remember that Lisa is your go-to person for VHAT questions. Her email is lisat@bptmn.org.
Connemara:
Our first field trip is this Saturday. If your plans change, please update the SUG.
Make sure to use Bob's directions and arrive on time to start at 9:00am. Arriving at 9:00 is late.
7800 Roberta Dr., Plano
Wear your nametag and dress for the weather. We will be doing a lot of walking so wear comfortable shoes.
Frisco Commons:
We’ve added a field trip to Frisco Commons Park on Saturday, April 11th, 10:30am-12:30pm. You can see it on the Field Trip SUG.
See you next week,
Nancy
Nancy Casillas, Training Director
Texas Master Naturalist, Blackland Prairie Chapter
nancyc@bptmn.org
214-725-2309
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