Syllabus
1. Introduction: Characteristics of microorganisms. Fundamentals of bacterial physiology, metabolism and growth.
2. Carbon flux in aquatic ecosystems - the role of bacteria in specific situations.
3. Geochemical cycles of nitrogen, phosphorus and other elements.
4. Methodology of the aquatic microbiology: Counts and biomass. Activity, growth and production. Taxonomy and methods of determination.
5. Function of bacteria in entire types of aquatic ecosystems: Lakes and reservoirs. Running waters. Ground waters. Sediments and biofilms. Artificial systems. Controlled biodegradation.
6. Health and hygienic aspects.
7. Fate of allochtonous microorganisms in the environment.
Annotation
The course continues ion the basic knowledge of microbiology. Fundamental elements of bacterial physiology are explained in specific conditions of the aquatic environment (geochemical cycles of basic elements, methodology), and in the framework of bacterial assemblages and their functions in various types of aquatic ecosystems.
Related hygienic and health problems and biodegradation aspects are included.