MAC 625

Marine Biochemical Cycles
Fall 2004, 3 credits

Instructor: Dr. Barrie F. Taylor, 361‑4728,
Office 254 SLAB Bldg, RSMAS

Roles of bacteria and archaea in the transformation of elements and compounds in the marine environment. Functions in the carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycles, and the transformation of metals and metalloids. Adaptation to the deep-sea environment; corrosion and biofouling; biotechnology; biomass and activity determination. 

Exams: A term paper and seminar presentation will be required.      

Course Schedule

Actual times for classes to be arranged with the students. # Date Topic 1 Jan 19 Wed Planning Meeting 2 Jan 24 Mon Introduction 3 Jan 26 Wed Sulfur Cycle 4 Jan 31 Mon Sulfur Cycle 5 Feb 2 Wed Sulfur Cycle 6 Feb 7 Mon Sulfur Cycle 7 Feb 9 Wed Nitrogen Cycle 8 Feb 14 Mon Nitrogen Cycle 9 Feb 16 Wed Nitrogen Cycle 10 Feb 21 Mon Carbon Cycle 11 Feb 23 Wed Carbon Cycle 12 Feb 28 Mon Carbon Cycle 13 Mar 2 Wed Iron and Manganese 14 Mar 7 Mon Iron and Manganese 15 Mar 9 Wed Arsenic & Selenium 16 Mar 14 Mon Arsenic & Selenium 17 Mar 16 Wed Phosphorus 18 Mar 28 Mon Heavy Metals 19 Mar 30 Wed Extremophiles 20 Apr 4 Mon Extremophiles 21 Apr 6 Wed Biotechnology 22 Apr 11 Mon Biomass & Activities 23 Apr 13 Wed Biofouling & Corrosion 24 Apri 18 Mon Evolution 25 Apr 20 Wed Seminars 26 Apr 25 Mon Seminars 27 Apr 27 Wed Seminars

MARINE BIOCHEMICAL CYCLES

MAC 625 (3 credits)
Barrie F. Taylor

Outline

Roles of bacteria and archaea in the transformation of elements and compounds in the marine environment. Their functions in the carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycles, and the transformation of metals and metalloids. Adaptation to the deep-sea environment; corrosion and biofouling; biotechnology; biomass and activity determination.

Introduction

Description of microrganisms; viruses, prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Phylogeny (rRNA sequences); bacteria and archaea. Nutrition - carbon and energy metabolism, electron acceptors. Composition and environmental ranges.

Sulfur cycle

Man's impacts on global and marine cycles. Transformations of inorganic and organic sulfur compounds. Volatile sulfur compounds. Chemosynthesis and food chains. Stable isotopes and sulfate reduction. Selenium cycle and transformations.

Nitrogen Cycle

Global and marine cycles; Man's impacts. Outline of transformations and organisms. Assays for nitrogen fixation, nitrification, and denitrification. Nitrous oxide production and consumption.

Carbon Cycle

Global and marine cycles; Man's impacts. Methane production and consumption. CO production and consumption. CO₂ fixation (RuBisco & C₄ pathway), stable isotopes. Production & consumption of halocarbons. Biodegradation of natural and synthetic (xenobiotic) organic compounds.

Transformations of Phosphorus and Arsenic

Iron and manganese

Inter-environmental oxidants (including pollutant removal), environmental availability (siderophores), geological deposits (magnetosomes etc), uranium deposits.

Heavy Metals

Mercury, lead, cadmium, tin.

Bacterial Ecology and Applied Aspects

Hydrothermal vents (hyperthermophiles); hypersaline environments; low temperature and high pressure; physiology and survival in seawater. Pathogenic bacteria and viruses. Molecular biology (phylogeny & ecology). Biofouling and corrosion. Biotechnology. Stromatoliths. Evolution of life.