Dieter Ramseier: Catalogue data in Spring Semester 2019

Name Dr. Dieter Ramseier
Address
Institut für Integrative Biologie
ETH Zürich, CHN H 70.2
Universitätstrasse 16
8092 Zürich
SWITZERLAND
Telephone+41 44 632 43 78
E-mailramseier@retired.ethz.ch
DepartmentEnvironmental Systems Science
RelationshipLecturer

NumberTitleECTSHoursLecturers
551-0102-01LFundamentals of Biology I Information Restricted registration - show details
Registrations via myStudies until 30.1.2019 at the latest. Subsequent registrations will not be considered.
6 credits8PM. Gstaiger, T. A. Beyer, M. Kopf, R. Kroschewski, M. Künzler, D. Ramseier, M. Stoffel, E. B. Truernit, A. Wutz
AbstractThis 1st year Laboratory course introduces the student to the entire range of classical and modern molecular biosciences. During this course (Praktikum GL BioI) the students will do three praktikum days in:
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology I
- Microbiology
- Plant Anantomy & Ecology
(total of 12 experiments)

Each experiment takes one full day.
ObjectiveIntroduction to theoretical and experimental biology

General Praktikum-information and course material can be obtained from Moodle

The general Praktikum information (Assignment list, Instructions and Schedule & Performance Sheet) will also be sent to the students directly (E-mail).
ContentThe class is divided into four blocks: Biochemistry, Microbiology, Plant biology & Ecology and Cell Biology I.

BIOCHEMISTRY:
- TAQ Analysis (part 1): Protein purification
- TAQ Analysis (part 2): SDS-Gelelektrophoresis
- TAQ Analysis (part 3): Activity test of the purified protein

MICROBIOLOGY:
Day 1: Basics for the work with microorganisms & Isolation of microorganisms from the environment
Day 2: Morphology and diagnostics of bacteria & Antimicrobial agents
Day 3: Morphology of fungi & Microbial physiology and interactions

PLANT BIOLOGY & ECOLOGY
- Microscopy and plant cell anatomy
- Plant organ anatomy and gene expression
- Ecology

CELL BIOLOGY I:
- Anatomy of mouse & Blood cell determination
- Histology
- Chromosome preparation and analysis
Lecture notesLaboratory manuals

BIOCHEMISTRY:
- The protocols can be downloaded from: Moodle

MICROBIOLOGY:
- The protocols can be found from: Moodle
- You HAVE TO print the pdf-file, which is also used as the lab manual during the experiments. Therefore, you have to have the Script always with you, when doing the experiments in Microbiology.

PLANT BIOLOGY & ECOLOGY:
- The protocols can be found from: Moodle

CELL BIOLOGY I:
- The handouts of the experiments entitled "Histology" will be provided
- The protocols of "Anatomy of mouse & Blood cell determination" and "Chromosome preparation and analysis" can be found from: Moodle
LiteratureNone
Prerequisites / NoticePLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING RULES

Your attendance is obligatory and you have to attend all 12 Praktikum days of GL BioI. Absences are only acceptable if you are able to provide a Doctor’s certificate. The original Dr's certificate has to be given to Dr. M. Gstaiger (HPM F43) within five days of the absence of the Praktikum day.

If there will be any exceptional or important situations then you should directly contact the Director of Studies of D-Biol, who will decide if you are allowed to miss a Praktikum day or not.

HIGHLY IMPORTANT!!

1. Due to the increased number of students, the official Praktikum registration has to be done, using myStudies, preferably at the end of HS18 but not later than Wednesday January 30, 2019.

2. Later registration is NOT possible and can NOT be accepted!

3. The course registration for FS2019 is usually possible at the end of Autumn semester 2018 and you will obtain an E-mail from the Rectorate when the course registration using myStudies is possible.

Students can register for a practice group via myStudies. As soon as the course unit is registered in myStudies, a text box appears indicating that a group can be selected. Accordingly, students can select a group in the next step. If more than 240 students register, the surplus students will be placed on a waiting list and then allocated by the course responsible.

Extra Praktikum days have to be organized if more than 220 - 240 students will attend the Praktikum. The group division is random and the reserved Extra Praktikum days are:

3.6 / 4.6 / 6.6

The Praktikum GL BioI will take place during the following days and therefore, you have to make sure already now that you will not have any other activities / commitments during these days:

PRAKTIKUM DAYS FS18 (Thursdays):

21.2 / 28.2 / 7.3 / 14.3 / 21.3 / 28.3 / 4.4 / 11.4 / 2.5 / 9.5 / 16.5 / 23.5

No Praktikum during the Easter vacation: 19.4.-26.4. 2019

EXTRA PRAKTIKUM DAYS (if necessary)

3.6 / 4.6 / 6.6
551-0376-00LExperimental Plant Ecology Restricted registration - show details
Number of participants limited to 20
A minimum of 4 participants are required in order for the block course to take place.

The enrolment is done by the D-BIOL study administration.
6 credits7GD. Ramseier, H. G. M. Olde Venterink
AbstractThe course gives an introduction to experimental plant ecology. A wide range of experiments close to applications (especially in conservation biology), to the influence of global change on ecosystems to fundamental research about coexistence of plants in ecosystems will be covered with lectures, excursions, demonstrations and own experiments.
Objective- to become familiar with various experimental approaches and instruments for plant ecological research, incl. advantages and disadvantages
- to gain practical skills by carrying out and evaluating ecological plant experiments
ContentExperiments in plant ecology are gaining importance for estimating the effects of global change and invasive species on ecosystems and their functions and ecosystem services. There are also numerous restoration projects where one would like to get away form the trial - error principle and anticipate the success of restoration measures on the basis of experiments.
In this course, principles of experimental plant ecology will be given in lectures, demonstrations, excursions, study of literature and with experiments realized by participants. In a theoretical part, advantages and disadvantages of various experimental approaches, methods and instruments will be discussed. The practical part will comprise experiments at various levels. Groups of students, under guidance, will develop experiments. This includes asking clear questions, search of literature, setting up and maintenance of the experiments, measurements, statistical analysis and interpretation of the results, and present a talk. Example of potential experiments are: a) influence of functional groups on cooling effects of green roofs; b) influence of mobility of nutrients on plant competition and coexistence; c) does P scarcity limits further dispersal of Amorpha fruticosa, a invasive species at Tagliamento, the last almost natural big river of the alps in Northern Italy? How do seeds optimize their germination behaviour? How can germination be improved for restoration projects or for greening of flat roofs?
On one of the excursions we will visit the restoration project Seebachtalseen (www.stiftungseebachtal.ch), where one of the lecturers is involved in restoring wet meadow communities. The destination of an other excursion will be an experiment on a green roof examining the influence of various substrates and their thicknesses on the development of the vegetation.
Lecture notesdocuments will be distributed during the course
Prerequisites / NoticeExperiments in plant ecology, as they will be set up for that course, typically last for 6 to 8 weeks. Thus, the experiments will be set up before the block by the students and then be harvested and analysed during the block (last quarter of the term). We will give a one hour introduction at the beginning of the term (time according to agreement), where participants can choose topics and form groups. The experiments will then be set up. The time used before the block can be compensated.
701-1434-00LEssentials of Restoration Ecology2 credits2GD. Ramseier, C. T. Robinson
AbstractRestoration ecology has become an important field of ecology. The original trial and error approach is now more and more replaced by a more systematic and scientific approach.
The course covers general principles of restoration ecology and practical applications mainly for wet and dry meadow restoration and restoration of rivers/streams. Forested habitats will only be touched marginally.
ObjectiveThe students gain insight in methods of ecological restoration. They will be able to evaluate various approaches and to design restoration projects. They will learn the ecological basis of river/stream restoration and restoration of wet and dry meadows.
ContentTwo hours lectures and one-hour seminar per week in the first four weeks of the semester
22.3.2019 after-noon excursion river/stream restoration Dübendorf
24.6.2019 after-noon excursion to a long-term experiment on establishment of vegetation on flat roofs in Zürich
31.6.2019 all-day excursion to the wetland restoration project Seebachtalseen (http://www.stiftungseebachtal.ch/)

Topics of lectures:
- Historical background of restoration ecology
- Reasons for ecological restorations
- Ecological principles relevant for restorations
- Approaches for ecological restorations
- Evaluation of restorations

Seminar: present a paper with self-searched additional information