Biology and biochemistry of the soil environment as they apply to environmental and agricultural processes and sustainability. Topics include the soil habitat, microbial ecology and diversity, biogeochemical cycling of nutrients, biodegradation, and research methodology to investigate soil microorganisms. Credit Restriction: Students cannot receive credit for both ESS 454 and ESS 554.
(RE) Prerequisite(s) : ESS 231, ESS 232; BIOL113* or BIOL150* or BIOL158*; BIOL114* or BIOL160* or BIOL168*

Other Instructors: DeBruyn, Jennifer Mary

The Anthropocene is defined as: the period of time during which human activities have had an environmental impact on the Earth. This course will explore how Earth’s microbiome has responded to human activities that have had significant environmental impacts such as temperature, acidification, moisture availability, toxins/nutrients/pollution exposure, etc. Example microbial habitats include human/animal, agricultural, terrestrial, aquatic, deserts and landfills.
Contact Hour Distribution: 2 hours lecture and one 3-hour lab.
Recommended Background: General soils.

Biology and biochemistry of the soil environment as they apply to environmental and agricultural processes and sustainability. Topics include the soil habitat, microbial ecology and diversity, biogeochemical cycling of nutrients, biodegradation, and research methodology to investigate soil microorganisms. Credit Restriction: Students cannot receive credit for both 454 and 554.
Recommended Background: Introductory soils and introductory biology.

Other Instructors: DeBruyn, Jennifer Mary