NBIA09049U Microbial Ecology

Volume 2013/2014
Education
MSc Programme in Biology
MSc Programme in Agriculture
Content
Microbial diversity: Bacteria, fungi and protozoa. Microbial diversity versus culturability. Methods for identification of microorganisms from environmental samples incl. traditional, DNA-based, fatty acids and stable isotope probing (SIP) methods. Microbial biomass and quantitative analyses. Fumigation, q-PCR, PFLAs, Microscopy and other methods. Interactions between microorganisms e.g. microbe-microbe interactions, plant-microbe interactions, animal-microbe interactions etc.
Biological control and risk assessment of microorganisms. Application of microbial ecology to control harmful microorganisms, weeds and pests.
Learning Outcome
To provide an understanding of the ecology of microorganism (bacteria, fungi and protozoa) including the interaction between these groups. To develop practical skills for isolating, pure culturing of microorganism. To develop practical skills for molecular identification and determination of microbial biomass. To obtain knowledge of current metagenomic analyses tools. To obtain knowledge of applied aspects of microbial ecology.


Knowledge:
By the end of the course students are expected to:
  • describe the diversity of microbial (bacteria, fungi and protozoa) communities and methods to study this
  • explain how microorganisms interact with each other and with other organisms in beneficial and harmful ways
  • critically evaluate different methods for detection of specific microorganisms
  • critically evaluate different methods for determination of total microbial biomass as well as the biomass of fungi, protozoa and bacteria independently
  • identify major microbial potentials and risks to human society
  • discuss, put into perspective, and criticize original research papers in microbial ecology.


Skills:
  • work experimentally with microorganisms including formulation of hypotheses, planning and performing experiments, analysis and statistical testing of the data and reporting of the results
  • use their acquired knowledge of microbial diversity and ecology in designing identification, detection, and species recognition strategies.

Competencies:
  • By participating in this course the students should be able to integrate theory and practice into designing and perform appropriate solutions to specific questions within microbial ecology. In doing this students should be able to take into the consideration the complexities of the system i.e. several different phylogegenetic and functional groups are involved - interacting with each other and with the environment.
  • Students should be able to put Microbial Ecology into general ecological, biological and environmental contexts.


Literature
See Absalon.
Introductory courses (bachelor level) in microbiology, ecology and molecular biology is expected.
Lectures, laboratory and computer practicals, group discussions, student presentations and project work.
The course is part of the qualification profiles 'Ecosystem Functioning and Management' and 'Microbiology'. For all courses of the qualification profiles, see Course Portal for Department of Biology.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Colloquia
  • 7
  • Exam
  • 18
  • Guidance
  • 9
  • Lectures
  • 10
  • Preparation
  • 110
  • Project work
  • 46
  • Theory exercises
  • 6
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
Oral examination, 20 minutes under invigilation
The students will carry out a microbial ecological project in groups and hand-in a joint paper presenting the project. This paper is presented individually at an oral examination and discussed. Themes from the general course curriculum may be included in the discussion if relevant. The exam is graded following the 7 scale with internal censorship. Papers will need to be handed in one week before the exam.
Exam registration requirements
In order to be allowed to the final exam the student should during the course have performed an approved oral presentation based on a scientific paper.
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Re-exam
Same as ordinary exam. Handing-in of paper must be arranged with the teacher.
Criteria for exam assesment
To obtain 12, the students should carry out, defend, discuss and put into broader microbial ecological context a project with no or few minor errors. The above includes: planning, formulation of appropriate testable hypotheses, performing the experiments, analyzing data including statistical testing and reporting of the results meeting standard scientific standards as well as discussing and defending the project at the oral defense.