BIO 335 - Microbial Ecology and Diversity

4.00 credits.

The study of microorganisms from community, population, and systems ecology perspectives. This course examines fitness trade-offs in context of environmental challenges, as well as microbial diversity. Topics will include biogeochemical cycling, degradation of organic matter, and symbiosis while highlighting unique environments such as thermal vents, the gut of ruminant animals, and anoxic environments. Laboratory is used to further develop experimental design, field-based research, and molecular approaches to microbial community ecology. *Prerequisite(s): BIO 235 or permission of instructor. Hours: lecture 3, laboratory 3. Fall semester, when offered.