BIOL 433 - Microbial Ecology

Units: 3
Microorganisms in ecological and environmental systems, including aspects of microbial diversity in terrestrial, extreme, and marine and freshwater environments; microbial contributions of global biogeochemical cycles; and the use of microorganisms to address modern-day issues.

Prerequisites: BIOL 330.
Equivalent Quarter Course: BIOL 4340.
Possible Instructional Methods: Entirely On-ground.
Grading: A-F grading only.
Course Typically Offered: Spring ONLY

Student Learning Outcomes - Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:

Articulate microbial strategies for coping and survival under environmental stresses such as nutrient fluctuation, prolonged starvation, competition, predation, and extreme environments;
Describe the mediation of major biogeochemical cycles by microorganisms, including the role microbes play in remediating pollutants using metabolic and co-metabolic processes;
Compare and contrast oxygenic and anoxygenic photosynthesis;
Illustrate how atmospheric nitrogen is converted to forms “more usable” by diazotrophs;
Verbalize a variety of insect-microbe, plant-microbe, and animal-microbe interactions, including potential use of these interactions in agri- and bioterrorism;
Provide fundamental information regarding the release of genetically-modified bacteria;
Understand how microorganisms facilitate the stability, habitability, and persistence of life on Earth and possibly on other planets.