Objectives and Content
The subject of this course is the ecological interactions between microorganisms. Special attention is given to the relationships between the microbial food web, biodiversity, the physical/chemical environment (CO2, light, micro/macro-nutrients), and biogeochemical element cycles in the ocean. An introduction is given to the use of simple mathematical models in the analysis of such relationships. The relationship between bacterial physiology and the structure of anaerobic marine ecosystems, and the role of microbial evolution in global biogeochemical cycles are treated. Basic methods in marine microbial ecology are used in an experimentally oriented semester exercise. This includes selected molecular methods for the study of microbial communities.
Prerequisites
Basic courses in Biology.
Learning outcomes
The aim of this course is to introduce the students to marine microbial ecology at the system level using a combination of theoretical analysis and experimental work, increase their knowledge and practise in the use of methods central to studying diversity, composition, and function of microbial communities, as well as train them in written presentation of research results.
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