NSCPHD1114 Soil dynamics: organisms, pools & processes

PLEASE NOTE         

The PhD course database is under construction. If you want to sign up for this course, please click on the link in order to be re-directed. Link: https://phdcourses.ku.dk/nat.aspx

We invite you to attend the course Soil dynamics: organisms, pools & processes (previously: Dynamics of Organic Matter in Soil), which we offer for the 9th time this year. We attempt to integrate soil science and soil microbiology/zoology.

The course is relevant if you work with soil in the context of environmental, agricultural or natural science. E.g.: (1) field studies on plant nutrients, (2) process studies on key factors for microbial activity, (3) taxonomic studies of organisms participating in soil processes, (4) work on new methods to identify specific groups of organisms in situ, or (5) soil food web analysis. The lectures and discussions will stimulate the interaction between teachers and participants and are essential for a successful course.

Accommodation: Christiansminde field station, SW Zealand, approx. 80 km from Copenhagen. Arrival: June 12. June 13-17: lectures, field work, discussions, student presentations, seminars. June 18: Student presentations, evaluation, and departure.

We cover the following topics: The ecosystem: Ecosystem structure and function; soil chemistry; pedology, mull and mor; soil organic matter. Production and decomposition of organic matter: Plant eco-physiology, (carbon balance of stand and single plant level); decomposition processes; spatial variation in activity in soil. Micro-organisms: The functional structure of microbial communities; molecular biology; a linkage between microbial ecology, general ecology and organism-biology; fungi, functional (enzymatic) diversity; mycorrhiza in organic matter turnover. Soil fauna and soil processes. Faunal effects on environment, diversity and decomposition.

A major theme in the course will be the bridge between the good hypothesis, the well planned experiment and the firm discussion and conclusion. Student group work will focus on this and it will be the topic of group presentation and the final written assignment. Many scientific papers are unfocussed and difficult to follow and we hope to improve that. 

Organizers: Terrestrial Ecology Section (Department of Biology, Nature and Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen).

Signing up: If you would like to participate, please send your name, address, title of your PhD project and a few lines describing it, including starting and termination date to fekelund@bio.ku.dk before May 1, 2016.

You will know by May 20 about your attendance (limit 20 students). Participants will receive course material incl. detailed information on how to reach the site. Participants from Copenhagen University pay 200 euro, other attendants pay 300 euro in total for lodging, food, and course material.

Please contact: Flemming Ekelund (Terrestrial Ecology Section, Universtetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark) if you have further questions. Phone: +45 51 82 70 48 (direct), +45 2243 6301 (mobile), E-mail: fekelund@bio.ku.dk