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BB201: Aquatic Microbial and Molecular Ecology (10 ECTS)

STADS: 04005301

Please note that this course is open for students on Master's level.

Level
PhD course

Teaching period
The course is offered in the autumn semester.

Teacher responsible
Email: ebk@biology.sdu.dk
Email: atreusch@biology.sdu.dk

Additional teachers
rnglud@biology.sdu.dk

Timetable
Group Type Day Time Classroom Weeks Comment
Common I Saturday 09-10 U176 48-50 test
H1 TL Monday 08-17 U24 31-33
H1 TL Monday 08-17 Green Lab 31-33
H1 TL Tuesday 08-17 U24 31-33
H1 TL Tuesday 08-17 Green Lab 31-33
H1 TL Wednesday 08-17 U24 31-33
H1 TL Wednesday 08-17 Green Lab 31-33
H1 TL Thursday 08-17 U24 31-33
H1 TL Thursday 08-17 Green Lab 31-33
H1 TL Friday 08-17 U24 31-33
H1 TL Friday 08-17 Green Lab 31-33
H1 TL Saturday 08-17 U24 31-33
H1 TL Saturday 08-17 Green Lab 31-33
H1 TL Sunday 08-17 U24 31-33
H1 TL Sunday 08-17 Green Lab 31-33
Show entire timetable
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Prerequisites:
PhD-student or Bachelor's degree in Biology.

Academic preconditions:
Students taking the course are expected to:
  • Have knowledge of basic ecology and microbial ecology
  • Be able to use basic laboratory equipment

The course is primarily for PhD  students, but MSc students can also be accepted.



Course introduction
The aim of the course is to enable the student to teach og do research on biogeochemical, molecular biological and microbial subjects, which is important with regard to conduct and communicate research in aquatic sediments.

The course builds on the knowledge acquired in courses on ecology and microbial ecology, and gives an academic and methodological basis for PhD and MSc students to conduct qualified research on the subject.

In relation to the competence profile of the degree it is the explicit focus of the course to:

  • Give the competence to conduct biogeochemical, molecular biological and microbial research on aquatic sediments 
  • Give skills to conduct qualified laboratory work with advanced research equipment
  • Give knowledge and understanding of the most recent research within biogeochemistry and microbiology of sediments.


Expected learning outcome
The learning objectives of the course are that the student demonstrates the ability to:
  • Discuss the systematics and evolution of microorganisms
  • Define the most common concepts used in biogeochemistry and molecular ecology
  • Hypothesize about the function of microorganisms in biological systems
  • Discuss the role of microorganisms for biogeochemical cycles
  • Discuss how the techniques of molecular biology and bioinformatics can be used to investigate the occurrence and activity of microbes in aquatic environments
  • Employ standard biogeochemical and molecular ecological methods in studies of aquatic sediments
  • Evaluate and discuss the validity and meaning of results from biogeochemical and molecular biological studies of aquatic sediments
Subject overview
The following main topics are contained in the course:
  • Microbial diversity and evolution
  • Interactions among microbial populations, development of communities and adaptation to environment
  • Microbial energetics related to processes like organic matter decomposition as well as oxygen, nitrate and sulfate respiration
  • Biogeochemical cycles in aquatic environments
  • Characterization of microbial communities using molecular biological techniques
Literature
  • Canfield, D.E., Kristensen, E. & Thamdrup, B (2005): Aquatic Geomicrobiology, Elsevier Academic Press, Amsterdam.


Website
This course uses e-learn (blackboard).

Prerequisites for participating in the exam
None

Assessment and marking:
  1. Report. Pass/fail, internal marking by teacher. (10 ECTS). (04005302).

The mode of exam at the re-examination may differ from the mode of exam at the ordinary exam.



Expected working hours
The teaching method is based on three phase model.
Intro phase: 24 hours
Skills training phase: 75 hours, hereof:
 - Tutorials: 25 hours
 - Laboratory exercises: 44 hours
 - Excursion: 6 hours

Educational activities

Educational form
Activities in the study phase:
  • Data handling in teams
  • Report writing in teams

Since it is an international PhD course, the teaching will be focused over an intensive 3-week period in August. Report writing will occur during the fall semester.



Language
This course is taught in English.

Remarks
For more information on the course, please see: http://www.sdu.dk/en/om_sdu/institutter_centre/i_biologi/forskning/forskningsomraader/akvatisk+oekologi/aquaticmicrobialmolecularecology.

Course enrollment
See deadline of enrolment.

Tuition fees for single courses
See fees for single courses.