Universität Wien

300104 UE Physiology and cell biology of marine symbionts and their hosts (2025S)

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

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. 12 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes

All meetings are mandatory and will take place in presence in Seminar Room 3.1, UBB, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030 Vienna

Preparatory meeting (mandatory): 7 March 1 - 2 pm

Presentation and discussion of experimental plan (mandatory): 14 March 1 -2 pm

Workshop (students' presentations): 6 June 9 am - 1 pm

Practical course (in Piran, Slovenia): August 4 2025 9 am (departure from Vienna on August 3) - August 16 2025 12 pm

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The aim of this course is to experience collection of marine symbiotic animals and lab work in the field (Pirano, Slovenia). At the end of the course, students are required to present the results of two experiments in form of oral presentations and of a written report. The experiments will be performed on marine animals engaging in chemosynthetic symbiosis (stilbonematid nematodes). Details of the planned experiments will be given during preparatory meetings in Vienna (see Dates). We will practice methods to determine the effect of environmental changes on symbiosis physiology and cell biology. Snorkelling skills are desirable but not mandatory. Please accept that SCUBA diving is not allowed during the practical course.
Methods: underwater sampling and photography (not mandatory), measurement of physicochemical parameters, anaerobic chamber set-up and use immunostaining, DNA staining, light- and epifluorescence microscopy.

Assessment and permitted materials

Active participation to the preparatory meeting, to the experiments, to the interpretation of the obtained results and final presentation and protocol.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Participation to the preparatory meetings in Vienna, whole field course in Piran, Slovenia, presentation of the obtained results on the last day and written report.

Examination topics

Theoretical background (physiology and cell biology of chemosynthetic symbioses, in particular stilbonematid symbioses) and understanding of the results obtained during the practical course.

Reading list

Dubilier et al. 2008; Petersen and Yuen 2021; Sogin et al. 2021
(see Moodle platform for pdfs)

Association in the course directory

MBO 7, MEC-9, MES5, UF MA BU 01, UF MA BU 04, MMEI III, M-WZB

Last modified: Sa 17.05.2025 20:06