| Number | Title | ECTS | Hours | Lecturers |
|---|
| 701-0524-00L | Soil Biology | 3 credits | 2V | O. Daniel,
B. W. Frey |
| Abstract | Soil organisms play a key role in natural soil functions. The course focuses on anthropogenic impacts such as management, land-use change and climate change on soil biodiversity. |
| Objective | Basic knowledge on biological structures and functions in soil. Discussion of biological interactions, nutrient cycles and energy fluxes in the subsurface. Here we try to answer the following questions: How do environmental factors influence soil organisms? How they can be studied and how they are influenced? Which ecosystem functions are performed by soil organisms? What are important microbial processes in the carbon and nitrogen cycle? |
| Content | Structure of the habitat soil: Chemical, physical and biological factors coupling soil-water-air. Structure of soil biocoenoses. Soil fauna-environment and soil microorganism-environment interactions. Nutrient cycles, organic matter decomposition and biologically catalyzed processes in soil. Evaluation of soil biological methods. |
| Lecture notes | Handouts and student assignments will be distributed during the course. |
| Literature | No specific books required. Some recommendations will be given in the course |
| Prerequisites / Notice | Prerequisites: basic knowledge in soil physics, soil chemistry, zoology and mikrobiology. |
