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MARN331
Marine Phytoplankton Ecology
and Physiology—Fall 2004
(August
30-December 18)
3 credits. Prerequisite: BIO107, 108, MARN170,
MARN260/380 or consent of instructor.
Instructor: Senjie Lin
Course description
Phytoplankton diversity and distribution,
photosynthesis and growth in relation to genetic and environmental
factors, cell death, top-down control, and current topics in
phytoplankton research. Methodology of measurements will be an
emphasis.
Class hours
and location
Lecture: Wed 9:45-11:30 am, Room #123.
Lab: Fri 9:30 am-12:30 pm, Room #107.
Textbook:
None. The class will be largely based on literature.
Reading
materials: assigned literature materials (selected papers from
the Reading List).
Grading: final grade is determined by
points from final exam (45%), lab performance (30%), and term paper
(25%).
Syllabus
Week 1
(Aug 30, Sep 3)
Lecture 1:
Introduction
·
Objectives & structure
·
Expectations
·
Assignment of term papers
Lab 1: Culture isolation
Week 2 (Sep 8, Sep 10)
Lecture 2:
Species diversity and distribution
·
Species diversity and challenges in
identification
·
Phytoplankton biomass (chlorophylls, carbon,
cell concentration)
·
Epifluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry
Lab 2:
Identification of phytoplankton (lab cultures and field samples from
Long Island Sound).
Week 3
(Sep 15, 17)
Lecture 3:
Chloroplast diversity and pigment ratios
·
Evolution: endosymbiosis and gene transfer
theories;
·
Ecological variants: Structure, pigments,
enzymes.
·
Chlorophylls, chlorophyll to carbon ratios
Lab 3:
chlorophyll measurement.
Week 4
(Sep 22, 24)
Lecture
4: Photosynthesis and effects of light
·
Photochemistry and biochemistry in
photosynthesis
·
P-I functional response.
·
Light adaptation and photoinhibition.
·
Effects of UV light.
Lab 4:
Long Island Sound Cruise.
Week 5
(Sep 29, Oct 1)
Lecture 5:
Reproduction
·
Reproduction and life history.
·
Cell division cycle.
·
Circadian rhythm.
Lab 5: Chlorophyll (cruise sample) and
Fv/Fm (cultures)
Week 6 (Oct 6, 8)
Lecture 6:
Effects of nutrients I
·
Requirement of N, P, Si, trace metals
·
Sources and abundances.
·
Stoichiometric ratios.
Lab 6: P vs I curve
Week 7 (Oct 13, 15)
Lecture 7: Effects of nutrients II
·
Nutrient limitation.
·
Nutritional diversification.
Lab 7: P vs I curve.
Term paper 1st draft due
Week 8 (Oct 20, 22)
Lecture 8: Iron limitation
·
Requirement of iron, cobalt, zinc, etc.
·
Symptoms of iron limitation and adaptation.
·
Consequence of iron fertilization.
Lab 8: Measurement of nitrate reduactase
activity
Week 9
(Oct 27, 29)
Lecture 9: Heterotrophy in planktonic microalgae
- Is
mixotrophic the norm?
- Sapotrophic
and phagotrophic.
- Grazing
capability.
- Uptake
of DOC.
Lab 9: Measurement of nitrate reduactase activity.
Week 10 (Nov 3, 5)
Growth rate
- Cell
division rate (gross growth rate)
- Genetic
determinants
- Bottom-up
control
Lab 10: Dilution experiment
Week 11 (Nov 10, 12)
Lecture 11: Growth and
grazing
- Net
growth rate and population dynamics
- Cell
death: “altruistic suicide”?
- Top-down
control
Lab 11: Dilution
experiment
Week 12 (Nov 17, 19)
Lecture 12: Production and
biomass: Remote sensing technology
- Measurement methods
- Total and system-specific productions
- Biological pump and its efficiency
- Positive & negative feedbacks
Lab 12: 14C method
Week 13 (Nov. 22-28)
Thanksgiving Recess: No class
Week 14 (Dec 1, Dec 3)
Lecture 13: Community structure & function in response to
environmental changes
- Diatom
dominated system (Si, NO3 vs. NH4)
- Picoplankton
dominated system (oligotrophic)
- Coccolithophore
dominated system (CaCO3 formation)
- Eutrophication
- Thermal
stress: Coral-Symbiodinium complex
Lab 13: 14C method
Week 15
(Dec 8, 10)
Final Exam (take home exam, distributed on Dec 8,
due back Dec 15)
Term paper: due on Dec 17.
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