Annotation
Microorganisms in natural environment.
Microorganisms physiology in relation to the environment. Specifics of main groups of microorganisms: bacteria, fungi, algae, protozoa.
Diversity of microorganisms and its importance
Taxonomic and functional diversity. Speciation of microorganisms. The importance of diversity for the functioning of ecological processes.
Ecology of microorganisms
Interactions of microorganisms with the environment. Influences of environment on microorganisms. Interactions and competition between microorganisms and other organisms in the environment.
Microbial processes of transformation of nutrients and energy
Transformation of organic compounds and metabolism. Decomposition of high molecular weight organic compounds. Oxidation / reduction processes in organic matter tranformation. Microbial processes in cycles of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur. Importance of microbial processes in geobiochemical cycles of elements.
Microbial biogeochemistry
Influence of abiotic environment by microorganisms - chemical and physical changes of the environment due to microbial activity, geomicrobiology.
Microbial processes in selected ecosystems
Microbial processes in main habitats: soil, fresh water, sea water, terrestrial biomes. The significance of the individual groups of microorganisms in selected habitats.
Microorganisms under extreme conditions
Microorganisms in extreme environments: deep sea ecosystems, hot springs, polar regions. Microorganisms in anthropogenic affected ecosystems. Mechanisms of adaptation of microorganisms to stress.
Interactions of microorganisms with plants and animals
Symbiosis and competition of micro- and macro-organisms. Function of lichens, mycorrhiza, pathogenic microorganisms in the environment.
Microorganisms in environmental protection and ecosystem functional stability
Use of microorganisms in environmental protection, bioindication, natural attenuation, reclamation, biodegradation, remediation of anthropogenic pollution.
Methods of study of microbial processes - biochemical and physiological methods
Detection and quantification of life manifestations of microorganisms. Respirometry, determination of metabolic abilities a metabolic diversity. Characteristics of microbial communities based on marker molecules. Indirect detection of specific groups of microorganisms. Enrichment and isolation of microorganisms from the environment.
Study methods of microbial processes - molecular methods
The use of methods based on the study of nucleic acids for the analysis of processes in the environment. Detection and quantification active population of microorganisms. Specific labeling of metabolically active microorganisms. Transcriptome analysis a proteome.