BIO 740 Environmental Microbiology
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY (3). Interaction of microorganisms with each other and with their environment. Microbial distribution and activities in natural systems, and their importance to ecosystem function and environmental quality. Extreme habitats; biofilms; habitat-specific forces; microbial activity; microbial transformations and their impact on different environments; role of microbes in nutrient cycles and biogeochemistry. species diversity; detection and control of microorganisms; and associations with higher organisms. Use of microbes for mitigating manmade environmental problems of industrial, agricultural, and domestic origin. Each basic principle followed by applied and environmental case studies. Prerequisites: microbial physiology, biochemistry or consent of instructor.