Bi8420 Microbial ecology

Faculty of Science
Spring 2023
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 2 credit(s) (fasci plus compl plus > 4). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Ing. Ivan Tůma, Ph.D. (lecturer)
prof. Mgr. Monika Vítězová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. Mgr. Monika Vítězová, Ph.D.
Department of Experimental Biology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: Ing. Jiřina Kučerová, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Experimental Biology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Timetable
Thu 12:00–13:50 E25/209
Prerequisites
Bi4090 General microbiology
Examination - microbiology, biochemistry, ecology of plants and animals.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Abstract
The aim of lectures is to familiarize students with ecology of microorganisms with emphasis on their importance in evolution of life and nutrient cycle. Specially attention is also targed to the study of interactions that microorganisms create between themselves and with their environment.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this course students will be able to define basic categories in microbial ecology, to understand importance of microbes for trophic chains and nutrient cycling in nature, their contribution to geochemical transformations and relationship between microbes, plants and animals.
Key topics
Introduction, history of microbial ecology. Microbial communities – composition, diversity, nutrition. Colonization, succession, climax. Structure of microbial communities, interactions within communities. Interactions between microbes and animals, and plants. Microbes in their natural habitats – atmo-ecosphere, hydro-ecosphere, litho-ecosphere. Quantitative ecology – sample collection and processing, detection of microbial populations, determination of microbial numbers and microbial biomass, methods of molecular microbial ecology. Biogeochemical cycles.
Study resources and literature
    recommended literature
  • Larry L. Barton, D.E.Northup: Microbial Ecology, Wiley-Blackwell, 2011
  • I.L.Pepper, C.P.Gerba, T.J.Gentry: Environmental Microbiology, Academic Press, 2015
Approaches, practices, and methods used in teaching
Lecture - powerpoint presentation.
Method of verifying learning outcomes and course completion requirements
Oral examination. To pass successfully the examination student has to answer correctly at least half of given questions.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2008 - for the purpose of the accreditation, Spring 2011 - only for the accreditation, Spring 2003, Spring 2004, Spring 2005, Spring 2006, Spring 2007, Spring 2008, Spring 2009, Spring 2010, Spring 2011, Spring 2012, spring 2012 - acreditation, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2024, Spring 2025, Spring 2026, Autumn 2026.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2023, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/spring2023/Bi8420