651-4044-01L Geomicrobiology and Biogeochemistry Lab Practical

Semester	Spring Semester 2016
Lecturers	T. I. Eglinton, C. Vasconcelos
Periodicity	yearly recurring course
Language of instruction	English
Comment	Limited number of participants 10 Prerequisites: Excursions "Geomicrobiology and Biogeochemistry Field Course" (651-4044-02L). The attendance of "Geomicrobiology and Biogeochemistry" (651-4044-00L) or "Organic Geochemistry and the Global Carbon Cycle" (651-4004-00L) is recommended but not mandatory.

Abstract	Contents: 1. Analysis of organic molecules in extracts from soils of different ages in glacial flood fields, in altitudinal gradients and from different bedrocks, and from sediments and living biofilms in high altitude aquatic ecosystems, mineral springs and ice. 2. Analysis of matrix components of the ecosystems: dissolved compounds, minerals, clays, trace components etc.
Objective	The laboratory module supplements the field trip section. 10 places are reserved for students who also signed up for the field course (651-4044-02L) Contents: 1. Preparing field work based on research hypotheses. 2. Designing field sampling strategies, proper sampling collection and preservation. 3. Documenting environmental conditions and observations at the sampling sites. 4. Extracting organic molecules from environmental samples with different matrixes. 5. Working under clean conditions and handling samples without contaminating them.
Content	This Lab Practical, together with the corresponding Field Trips form part of a continuing "Course Research" unit. During the field section in the Eastern Alps, we will visit a number of sites that offer - different bedrocks (dolomite, gneiss, shale, serpentinite, radiolarite, mine tailings) and will study the organics in the soils that formed on them. - aquatic ecosystems (lakes, rivers, springs) at high altitudes. Organics from pioneering colonizer organisms in lakes formed during the recent retreat of glaciers. - sediments recently deposited in lakes and flood planes as well as shales that date back to the mesozoic. The Lab Practical follows immediately after the field work.
Lecture notes	Procedures for sampling, extraction and analyses will be designed on a special preparation day during the field trips.
Literature	Field guides and details about the course logistics will become available to enrolled students on OLAT via Details under https://www.olat.uzh.ch/olat/url/RepositoryEntry/14374567936?guest=true&lang=en Instructions will be sent in the course of the spring semester to participants who are enrolled for this practical.
Prerequisites / Notice	The laboratory module (651-4044-01L) takes place from September 5 to September 9. It supplements the "Geomicrobiology and Biogeochemistry Field Course" (651-4044-02L). Samples collected in the field will be analyzed in the labs of the Biogeosciences and Geomicrobiology Groups immediately after the field trips. Students who sign up for both, the field and the lab component, are given priority. There are 10 places available in the lab. The lab section requires participation on the field trips. It is possible, however, to participate in the field section only. One of the lecture courses "651-4004-00L Organic Geochemistry and the Global Carbon Cycle" or "651-4044-00L Geomicrobiology and Biogeochemistry, under https://www.olat.uzh.ch/olat/url/RepositoryEntry/14217969664?guest=true&lang=en" (both offered during the spring semester) is a mandatory prerequisite for the lab section of the combined Field-Lab Course. They are not mandatory, but recommended for optimally profiting of the contents of the field section.