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Marine microbial ecology: from genomes to biomes

Have you ever wondered why the ocean is blue? How life evolved? How elements cycle in the sea? Or maybe, why the ocean buffers our human activities? This course aims to tackle these questions and much more. The course will broadly cover aquatic microbial diversity and the role of microbes in the environment.
Plankton

Light micrograph of plankton by course coordinator, Photo: Rachel A. Foster

This course is designed to study key concepts in microbial ecology, including the diversity, distribution, and activity of microbes in the environment. Environments include aquatic (marine, brackish, freshwater), benthic (sediments), and microbiomes. Microbial populations will be characterized by their morphological, genetic, and metabolic diversity. Additionally, a introduction to both classical and modern methods utilized in studying aquatic microbial ecology will be presented in case study examples, tutorials, and laboratory exercises. 

Both theory and practical exercises cover the most recent findings of the field and provide opportunities for practical hands-on experience in sampling and observing microbial populations, and also training in data analysis and interpretation.



Teaching Format

The education for the course consists of lectures, weekly guest research talks from international experts in the field, in class discussion exercises, tutorials, lab exercises, and independent reading.


Assessment

Examination includes: quizzes, paper discussions, lab exercises, class and tutorial participation, independent literature survey and oral presentation, and a written exam.

Examiner

Rachel Foster
E-mail: rachel.foster@su.se

The schedule will be available no later than one month before the start of the course. We do not recommend print-outs as changes can occur. At the start of the course, your department will advise where you can find your schedule during the course.


Note that the course literature can be changed up to two months before the start of the course.

No mandatory course literature.

Course reports are displayed for the three most recent course instances.