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| Semester | fall semester 2019 |
| Course frequency | Every fall sem. |
| Lecturers | Claudia Frey (claudia.frey@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | The broader context of the lecture is the key role of microorganisms in the coupling of the bio- and geosphere with the aim to create an understanding for important biogeochemical pathways and the involved microbes. This will encompass the build-up of organic matter in aquatic and terrestrial environments as well as its subsequent consumption and diagenesis. A special focus will be put to chemosynthetic pathways that play a key role in the C-, N- and S cycles. In this context, extreme environments, such a hydrothermal vents and cold seeps will be introduced where the turnover of simple, reduced C- and S species provide the base of the food web. In addition, the lecture will also provide an introduction to the phylogeny of Archaea and Bacteria involved in the introduced biogeochemical pathways. In the second part of the lecture, organic geochemical molecules (so called biomarkers) will be introduced. In particular, lipids and their associated stable carbon isotope signatures will be discussed, which can be used to trace the source-organism (e.g. Archaea versus Bacteria), specific pathways (e.g. photosynthesis versus methanogenesis) or environmental conditions (e.g. temperature or pH) in modern and fossil environments. |
| Bibliography | - Canfield, D. E., Kristensen, E., and Thamdrup, B., 2005. Aquatic Geomicrobiology. Elsevier, Oxford. - Killops, S. D. and Killops, V. J., 2005. Introduction to organic geochemistry. Plackwell Publishing, Malden, USA. - Staley, J. T., Gunsalus, R. P., Lory, S., and Perry, J. J., 2007. Microbial Life. Sinauer Associates, INC., Sunderland. |
| Comments | Bei Interesse kann die Vorlesung auf Englisch gehalten werden. |
| Weblink | Biogeochemie |
| Language of instruction | German |
| Use of digital media | Online, optional |
| Course auditors welcome |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|
No dates available. Please contact the lecturer.
| Modules |
Module: Environmental Geosciences and Biogeochemistry (Master's Studies: Geosciences) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | Zum Erwerb der Kreditpunkte werden während des Semester 2-3 Übungen in Form eines Quiz (40%) und am Ende des Semester eine Klausur (60%) durchgeführt. Bei nichtbestehen der Klausur kann alternativ der Leistungsnachweis in Form einer mündlichen Prüfung erbracht werden. |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration, dereg: cancel course registration |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | 1-6 0,5 |
| Repeated registration | as often as necessary |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Science, studiendekanat-philnat@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Geowissenschaften |