Courses: BIO217 Microbial Ecology - Spring 2017

Language of Instruction

English if English-speaking students attend the seminars, otherwise Norwegian

Teaching semester

Autumn. This is a course with limited capacity

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 (PCR, DGGE, and PFGE). Documented knowledge in microbiology is needed.

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.

Recommended Previous Knowledge

Ducumented knowledge in microbiology is needed.

Grading Scale

The grading scale used is A to F. Grade A is the highest passing grade in the grading scale, grade F is a fail.

Subject Overlap

MIK202: 10 sp