NBIA08007U Soil Biology

Volume 2013/2014
Education
MSc Programme in Biology
Content
Week 1: The role of soil organisms in the biosphere (lectures and discussion classes): Physical and chemical complexity of soils (from soil particles and aggregates to the landscape); life in water films and soil pores; nutrient gradients.
Week 2-3: The diversity of soil organisms (lectures and demonstrations): Bacteria; fungi; protozoa; nematodes; mites; insects; millipedes; centipedes; isopods; enchytraeids; earthworms.
Week 4: The decomposition process (lectures and discussion classes): The fast and slow pathway (bacterial and fungal based); top-down and bottom up regulation of microbial biomass; energetics of decomposition in soil; quality of the different types of organic matter in soils.
Week 5: Aboveground-belowground interactions via the plant (lectures and discussion classes): Plant nutrient acquisition from soil; mycorrhiza; root exudates; herbivores above- and belowground; signalling between plant roots and rhizosphere organisms.
Week 6: Diversity and functioning of soil communities (lectures and discussion classes): The soil food web; taxonomic and functional diversity; redundancy; resistance and resilience; diversity vs. number of species and functional groups.
Week 7: Monday: Student presentation of experimental work and guest lectures.
Learning Outcome
To provide an understanding of how the soil organisms drive and regulate the processes in the complex soil environment. This includes an understanding of 1) the huge diversity of soil organisms spanning from bacteria, fungi and protozoa to beetles and earthworms; 2) the factors governing this diversity and 3) the importance of organism interactions for the soil processes.


Students should become able to:
Soil physical and chemical environment
  • Describe the soil physical environment and its composition of clay, silt, and sand particles, water, and air-filled pores.
  • Analyze how the three dimensional structure of soils and in particular the chemical and physical conditions forms the basis for the organisms living there.
  • Analyze the chemical composition of soils including the organic fraction, the inorganic ions, the association of these components to the soil particles, and how this association affects the turnover dynamics of the components.
Diversity and function of soil organisms
  • Describe, and identify different important soil organisms (microfauna, mesofauna, macrofauna) to relevant taxonomic level.
  • Analyze the appearance and activity of soil microorganisms and soil fauna, as well as organism dependency of and impact on the soil environment.
  • Describe the association of soil organisms with plant roots and the effect on the functioning of the plant-soil system. Describe the diversity of soil organisms and its relation to soil functions.
  • Analyze the effects of human activities on the soil environment as well as the functions soils provide as services to the surrounding environment and to the human society.
  • Analyze how soils develop differently in different biomes and how this dependency affects soil organisms.
Experimental work, litterature and writing
  • Work experimentally with soil and its organisms (this work includes formulation of hypotheses, planning and performing experiments, analysis and statistical testing of the data and reporting of the results).
  • Analyze, put into perspective, and criticize original research papers.
  • Perform effective written and oral presentation of acquired knowledge and ideas.

 

Knowledge:

Students should become able to:

  • Describe and evaluate the soil physical environment and its composition of clay, silt, and sand particles, water, and air-filled pores.
  • Describe, and identify different important soil organisms (microfauna, mesofauna, macrofauna) to relevant taxonomic level.
  • Analyze and explain how the chemical and physical properties of soil forms the basis for the organisms living there.
  • Design and perform basic experiments to evaluate soil biological issues


Skills:

Students should become able to:

  • Describe the association of soil organisms with plant roots and the effect on the functioning of the plant-soil system. Evaluate and explain how the diversity of soil organisms affect soil functions.
  • Analyze the chemical composition of soils including the organic fraction, the inorganic ions, the association of these components to the soil particles, and how this association affects the turnover dynamics of the components.
  • Analyze how soils develop differently in different biomes and how this dependency affects soil organisms.
  • Work experimentally with soil and its organisms (this work includes formulation of hypotheses, planning and performing experiments, analysis and statistical testing of the data and reporting of the results).

 

Competencies:

Students should become able to:

  • Evaluate the effects of human activities on the soil environment as well as the functions soils provide as services to the surrounding environment and to the human society.
  • Analyze, put into perspective, and criticize original research papers.
  • Perform effective written and oral presentation of acquired knowledge and ideas.
Literature
See Absalon.
An introductory course in systems ecology and microbiology is an advantage.
Each of the weeks 1-7 include two lectures (Tuesday 9-12, Thursday 9-10), a discussion class (Thursday 10-12) and an experimental project (Thursday 13-17). In some weeks lectures with demonstrations will occur instead of the discussion classes.
The course is part of the qualification profiles 'Ecosystem Functioning and Management' and 'Nature and Environment'. For all courses of the qualification profiles, see Course Portal for Department of Biology.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Colloquia
  • 14
  • Exam
  • 0,5
  • Excursions
  • 8
  • Guidance
  • 2
  • Lectures
  • 12
  • Preparation
  • 125,5
  • Project work
  • 30
  • Theory exercises
  • 14
  • Total
  • 206,0
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Oral examination
Written assignment
Final oral exam is based on curriculum and practicals. The written essay on the practicals will be rated to 25% of the final grading.
Exam registration requirements
In order to be allowed to the final exam, the student should have participated actively in the course by being present at least for 80% of the exercises, by performing a satisfactory oral presentation based on a scientific paper, and by handing in a satisfactory essay on the practicals.
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
Criteria for exam assesment

In order to achieve the grade 12 the student must understand the interactions between processes occurring in soil, soil organisms, and the environment where the organisms live. Have a sufficient knowledge of the concepts defined in the curriculum of the course.