AB-832 Arctic Marine Molecular Ecology (10 ECTS)

Course requirements:

Enrolment in a relevant PhD programme.

Academic content:

Molecular genetics has become a significant part of the toolbox of marine ecologists. Such tools are invaluable in studies of e.g., biodiversity, microbial ecology, environmental genomics and transcriptomics, trophic interactions, and in general in studies aiming to understand the evolutionary backdrop of ecological processes. We will utilize the Isfjorden system as a marine laboratory to collect samples that we subject to various molecular genetic analyses in the UNIS molecular laboratories.

The combination of field-based high Arctic studies with the use of molecular genetic techniques will facilitate in depth understanding of the high Arctic ecosystem. The course will focus on selected parts of the marine ecosystem, although giving an introduction to the whole system. We will evaluate the utility of molecular tools. Their practical application will represent a significant part of the student projects.

Learning outcomes:

Knowledge
Upon completing the course, the students will be able to:

• briefly describe the key components of the Arctic marine ecosystem
• examine the utility of molecular tools in marine ecology
• weigh which molecular technique is most appropriate to different ecological questions
• evaluate the advantages and caveats of using molecular genetics in ecology.

Skills
Upon completing the course, the students will be able to:

• apply genetic tools to own projects
• design a study in molecular ecology
• select relevant statistic tools to analyse data obtained in typical molecular ecological projects.

General competences
Upon completing the course, the students will be able to:

• communicate own results to a scientific community
• write scientific reports based on own samples and data analyses
• take responsibility for the planning and leading of small research projects
• write a research proposal for a relevant project.

Learning activities:

The course extends over 5-6 weeks including compulsory safety training, and is run in combination with AB-332.

Ship based field sampling will be conducted to secure samples for student group projects, either as one-day excursions or staying out a few days in Isfjorden. The molecular laboratories of UNIS will be utilised to process samples for student projects. Training in the use of relevant bioinformatic and statistical analyses will be given. A research proposal for an Arctic project using molecular tools will be written. This should be submitted about two weeks after the exam.

Total lecture and seminar hours: 30–40 hours.
Laboratory (molecular and computer) work: 7–10 days.
Excursions: 2–4 days.

Compulsory learning activities:

Field excursions, laboratory work.
All compulsory learning activities must be approved in order to sit the exam.

Assessment:

All assessments must be passed in order to pass the course.
Each assessment is graded, and subsequently combined into a single grade. Partial grades for each assessment will be available. 

Application deadline: 15 April 2021

Want to know more about this course? Read this blog post from a former student.

AB-332/832 students collecting water samples. Photo: Malene Strøm Dieseth.

AB-332/832 students analysing samples in the UNIS teaching lab. Photo: Mads Schultz.