Universität Wien

300048 PP Heavy metal stress: ecology of organisms (2020S)

Ecology of organisms from heavy metal habitats: Strategies to cope with stress

10.00 ECTS (6.00 SWS), SPL 30 - Biologie
Continuous assessment of course work

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 10 participants
Language: German

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

Introductory lecture on 5.3.2020 at 12:45 in Ü2, UZA1.

The practical will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 to 14 in Übungsraum 2 and 3 (UZA1); it is a block in the second half of the Semester between 28.04.2020 and 30.06.2020

  • Wednesday 30.09. 15:00 - 18:00 Übungsraum 6

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The project laboratory course deals with natural and man-made heavy metal ecosystems and their plants.
The geophysical situation of the habitats and the specialized plants that have developed on these toxic soils will be discussed. Methods of analysis will be explained and applied individually.
The Project Practicum shall lead to a better understanding of the organisms' tolerance to toxic soil and their strategies of survival. This knowledge can be deepened and applied in practice within the scope of two one-day excursions to heavy metal habitats during the course.

Assessment and permitted materials

The course is a Practical and finishes with a Bachelor Thesis.

In addition to the Bachelor Thesis, for the grading count:
Personal contributions during the project practicum.

The results of the practical course will be discussed through guided and independent bibliographical research, and presented orally in a final seminar.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Basic knowledge of Ecology and Plant Sciences should have been acquired during the first semesters of the Bachelor Curriculum. The active participation in the laboratory work is required.

Examination topics

The practical course takes place in the Ü2 and in the laboratories of the Cell Imaging and Ultrastructure Research Department in the Biocenter Althanstrasse.
Heavy metals will be analysed in soils and plants:
by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) by X-ray microanalysis (EDX),
by Light Microscopy (LM) and specific fluorescent dyes and markers,
in plants and soils by atomic absorption spectral photometry (AAS) of extracts

Reading list

Relevant literature will be provided during the course.

Association in the course directory

BBO 10, BOE 13

Last modified: Sa 22.10.2022 00:29