The approach will be ecological, relating environmental physiochemical properties to regulation of microbial processes, distributions, and biodiversity. Topics will include state of the art methods for detecting distributions, biomass, and activities of microorganisms in the natural environment, the energenics regulating microbial processes, microbial biochemical pathways, biodegradation, microbial interactions, and the role that microorganisms play in the foodwebs of various ecosystems. Although emphasis will be placed on marine systems, also discussed will be processes in lacustrine, riverine, and groundwater ecosystems. Readings will draw heavily on the primary literature. A theoretical and empirical exploration of the interaction between environment and evolution of organismal structure, function, and behavior.
Readings draw heavily from primary literature, concentrating on examples involving marine organisms.
Physical Biology of Marine Organisms. Engineering methods and measurement techniques appropriate for investigations in physical biology will be presented. Analysis of Discrete Data. Mr. Diaz . Design, analysis and interpretation of field and laboratory studies that rely on discrete or count data, including rates and proportions.