- Docente: Silvana Vanucci
- Credits: 3
- SSD: BIO/07
- Language: Italian
- Teaching Mode: In-person learning (entirely or partially)
- Campus: Ravenna
- Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Marine Biology (cod. 8024)
Learning outcomes
After completing this module, students will have acquired knowledge on microbial food web structure and on dynamics of its major players (i.e. prokaryotes, picoeukaryotes, nanoflagellates, and viruses) in coastal and pelagic marine environments. Students will have gained knowledge on environmental factors and microbes' interactions which modulate microbial assemblages' structure, successions, and diversity. In particular, they will be able to analyze alterations of microbial food web dynamics due to anthropogenic pollution and/or climate changes.
Course contents
Introduction to marine microbial ecology; the major microbial food web players (prokaryotes, picoeukaryotes, nanoflagellates, and viruses). Abiotic and biotic factors controlling the physiological structure and the single-cell activity in marine bacterioplankton. Protistan grazing on prokaryotes and its ecological implication. Interactions between phytoplankton and bacteria. Marine viruses as a shaping force of bacterioplankton and phytoplankton structure and diversity. Basic methods in marine microbial ecology.
Readings/Bibliography
Kirchman D.L. (ed) 2008. Microbial Ecology of the Ocean. Wiley.
Munn C. (ed) 2011. Marine Microbiology ecology and applications. Garland Science.
Teaching methods
Frontal lessons, and practical activities in equipped laboratories
Assessment methods
Oral examination
Teaching tools
Power Point slides, selected scientific papers
Office hours
See the website of Silvana Vanucci