mar260 - Applied Molecular Ecology / Angewandte Molekulare Ökologie (Vollständige Modulbeschreibung)

Completion of this module will provide students with abilities that include but are not limited to,

- introduce state-of-the-art ‘omics approaches and data types to study naturally occurring microbial diversity.
- gain experience in practical applications of popular ‘omics strategies to simplified and real-world molecular data.
- introduce basic concepts of conservation science, oceanography, biodiversity, ecology and evolution as they pertain to marine coastal environments.
- learn through theoretical and practical exercises how environmental and biological factors interact to sustain near-shore ecosystems.
- make a connection between ‘omics technologies and conservation of marine environments. 
- improve discussion, analytical, presentation and writing skills.

VL Introduction to Popular ´Omics Strategies

Introduction to Popular ´Omics Strategies is a lecture course with a seminar designed to introduce its participants to the extent of microbial diversity on Earth and its impact on key biogeochemical processes, and strategies by which we characterize and study microbial life in naturally occurring systems to answer fundamental questions in microbial ecology and evolution. Students will learn about the theoretical underpinnings of popular 'omics data types (such as metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, metaproteomics, metametabolomics) as well as 'omics analysis approaches (such as metagenomic read recruitment, pangenomics, phylogenomics). To benefit from this course, students are expected to be familiar with the central dogma of biology, and the ability to answer what is a genome, a transcript, or a protein, and have at least a preliminary understanding of the principles in ecology and evolution, such as the basics of taxonomy and broad ecological principles that maintain complex ecosystems.
 

SE/Ü Applied Microbial ‘Omics

Applied Microbial ‘Omics will help students develop a mastery of state-of-the-art computational analysis strategies that rely on integrated ‘omics approaches and offer them hands-on experience in the applications of such strategies to simplified and real-world problems and datasets. To benefit from this course, the participants will need some exposure to the terminal environment, and the ability to perform basic operations on UNIX/Linux command line interfaces. While students can gain these skills throughout the course, they must be prepared to invest extra time into learning basics of such computational literacy.
 

VL Coastal Conservation in the ´Omics Age

Coastal Conservation is a lecture course with a seminar designed to introduce participants to the conservation of Caribbean coral reef biome and other near-shore environments such as rocky shores, mangroves and seagrass beds. Students will learn through theoretical and practical exercises how environmental and biological factors interact to sustain near-shore ecosystems. We will discover and describe the amazing diversity of coastal systems, explore the physiological and behavioral adaptations that enable organisms to live in this environment and deduct the basic ecological principles that underlie the function of near-shore ecosystems. This knowledge will build the basis for applying modern concepts of conservation, including the use of -omics technology and data to nearshore ecosystem. A focus of the course is the conception and writing of convincing project proposals, a skill that translates to careers well beyond science. The course requires strong participation and thus is most suited for highly motivated students.
 

SE/Ü Readings/Exercises in Coastal conservation

We will be reading primary literature throughout the course to support and deepen the concepts addressed in the lecture.

VL Introduction to Popular ´Omics Strategies

Selected primary literature.
 

SE/Ü Applied Microbial ‘Omics

Datasets and applications from selected primary literature and instructor-generated datasets for exercises and discussions.
 

VL Coastal Conservation in the ´Omics Age

Optional background

Jeffrey S Levinton, Marine Biology: Function, Biodiversity, Ecology.5th Edition. Oxford University Press. eISBN-13: 9780190681289

Trujillo and Thurman: Essentials of Oceanography, 10 edn. Prentice Hall. ISBN-13: 9780321668127. Library call number GC11.2.T49 2011
 

SE/Ü Readings/Exercises in Coastal conservation

Selected Primary literature

Keine

VL: keine Beschränkung, SE/Ü 30 TN (hohe Semester vor Abschluss haben Vorrang)

Klausur am Semesterende oder Abgabetermine werden von den Lehrenden am Beginn der Lehrveranstaltung bekannt gegeben

1 Prüfungsleistung:
1 Referat oder 1 Seminararbeit (Projektbericht) oder 1 Hausarbeit oder 1 fachpraktische Übung (Versuchsprotokoll) oder 1 Klausur (zu den beiden VL)
Prüfungsleitungen sind in Englisch oder Deutsch möglich.

Aktive Teilnahme an Seminaren und/oder Übungen