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| BOTA0208-1 | Plant and microbial ecology | |||||
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| Duration : | 35h Th, 25h Pr, 4d FW | |||||
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| Course contents : | This course is divided into three parts: Plant ecology: introduction; individal; population: generalities, population dynamics, intraspecific relationships, colonisation strategies; community: physical structure, biological structure, stability, dynamics; ecosystem: energy balance, the soil, the aquatic systems Microbial ecology: general concepts, microbial communities, localisation of microorganisms, functions of microorganisms in biogeochemical cycles, methods in microbial ecology Applied ecology and case studies: ecology of semi-natural regions, ecology of temperate forests, ecology of coniferous forests, ecology of freshwater ecosystems, bioremediation, treatment of organic wastes Particular importance is given to the understanding of theoretical concepts and their application to concrete examples. | |||||
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| Course objective : | - Detailed understanding of the fundamental concepts in ecology and their particular importance for plants and microorganisms. - Acquisition of sufficient knowledge and critical thinking to allow students to develop their own scientific opinion on environmental problems. - Realise the complexity of ecosystems and the importance of microbial processes | |||||
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| Prerequisites : | Basic concepts in ecology (in particular those introduced in the course of the 2nd candidature in biological sciences). | |||||
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| Workshops : | In the practicals, techniques used in the study of ecosystems will be demonstrated and tested. They will allow students to realise the variety and number of analytical techniques necessary for ecosystem research. The practicals involve measurements of soil microbial activities, physico-chemical characterisation of soils and waters collected in forest ecosystems and the determination of water quality by biological indicators (diatoms). Excursions to experimental sites of the research laboratory will illustrate how ecosystem research can be performed at various spatial and temporal scales. The ecology of ecosystems in the Haute Fagne and semi-natural systems will also be illustrated during field excursions. | |||||
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| Organization : | Lectures 90 minutes (power point presentations), practicals: take labcoat, field notes, calculator. | |||||
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| Written notes : | Essential concepts and power point illustrations are available. The understanding of concepts is based on the explanations given during the lectures. Additional information can be obtained from reference books available in the laboratory. | |||||
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| Assessment : | Oral exam, reports of practicals and field excursions. | |||||
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| Contacts : | Monique CARNOL, chargée de cours, Laboratoire d'Ecologie Végétale et Microbienne, Institut de Biologie Végétale (B22, Parking 70, 3rd floor) Tel. 04/3663845 (office),Tel./fax. 04/3663817 (laboratory) e-mail: m.carnol@ulg.ac.be | |||||
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ULg : Students and Studies Administration - Academic Affairs
Contact : Monique Marcourt, direction A.E.E.
Date of data : 27/02/2006
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