Microbial Oceanography

Catalog description

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. COURSE OVERVIEW. This course introduces the diversity and complexity of marine microorganisms and their role in the ocean and wider Earth system. The goal of microbial oceanography is to understand how microorganisms affect the structure and function of marine ecosystems. RELEVANCE AND APPLICATION. Marine microorganisms play an essential role in providing ecosystem services that modern human societies depend on, such as marine fisheries and the removal of pollutants. Marine microorganisms play a major role in global biogeochemical cycles of chemical elements essential to life on Earth. On geological time scales marine microorganisms have shaped global climate and the composition of the atmosphere. While studying microbial oceanography, you will develop transferable skills, including data analysis, critical thinking and scientific communication. KEY TOPICS AND THEMES. Diversity of microorganisms in the ocean, the metabolisms of marine microorganisms, the modern molecular methods used to study marine microorganisms, how marine microorganisms drive the marine carbon and nitrogen cycles, the response of marine microorganisms to change such as global heating and ocean acidification, the past contribution of marine microorganisms to the oxygenation of the atmosphere and the evolution of modern marine ecosystems, societal relevance and impact of marine microorganisms. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification; OCNG 251 or approval of instructor.