SES: Microbial Methods in Ecology

2011 Semester

Instructors:

Joseph Vallino (Starr 330, x7648, jvallino@mbl.edu)
Julie Huber (Lillie 305, x7291, jhuber@mbl.edu)
TA: Stefanie Strebel; (sstrebel@mbl.edu)


Listed below are lectures and other materials for the Microbial Methods in Ecology elective. See the Semester in Environmental Science web site for information on the overall course. This site will be updated as lectures and course materials become available.


Course Syllabus
Course Reading assignments
The 9th ed. of Brock can be ordered on amazon here for $12.00 including shipping, New.

Lectures

Note, these files are from last year unless marked at 2011. Files will be update as they are presented in class.  Assigned readings below do not include those assigned in Brock, so check Reading Assignments above.  The lecture notes are published here as pdf files, but can be obtained as power point files by contacting Joe Vallino.

  1. Introduction (2011)
  2. Bacterial Abundance (2011)
  3. Bacterial Production (2011) (and Liquid Scintillation Counter)  
  4. Extracellular Enzyme Assays (2011)
  5. Microbial Biogeochemistry: Metabolism in Winogradsky columns (2011)
  6. Microbial Food Webs: Flagellate and ciliate grazing on bacteria (2011)
  7. Molecular Techniques: PCR 
  8. Microbial Food Webs: Bacteria-phytoplankton competition (2010)


Problem Sets

PS#1 - Introduction
PS#2 - Bacterial Abundance
PS#3 - Bacterial Production
PS#4 - Extracellular Enzyme Assays
PS#5 - Microbial Biogeochemistry
PS#6 - Microbial Food Webs
PS#7 - Molecular Lab


Some Past Experimental Results


Interesting Links

Microbial mat at Great Sippewissett Saltmarsh, MA.

Winogradsky columns
(archived)

The Microbial World (archived)

Digital learning center for microbial ecology

EPA Info on coliform counts (See chapter 17)

Protist images

Introduction to Freshwater microorganisms

Harmful algal blooms

Archaea that grows at autoclave temperatures!

Micrographia.  Site contains many images and descriptions on microorganisms

Micro*scope here at MBLs


Micobial Life - Educational Resouces