A 6-day course. The course includes lectures, labs, research projects and guided tours.
The aim of this course is to introduce the students to the general biology of seagrasses and to their importance locally and worldwide. The course lectures cover the following main topics:
1. Seagrass biology and ecology: the evolution of seagrasses and their diversity introduction to marine photosynthesis, seagrass distribution and growth patterns, morphology and anatomy, modifications of morphology as a function of depth / light, sexual reproduction of seagrasses, reproductive organs, pollination in the marine context, ecology of seagrass beds and dispersal strategies (seeds and seed production, seed banks, dormancy, seed germination, seed dispersal, seed recruitment and seed establishment), use of seeds in seagrass restoration.
2. Carbon fluxes in seagrass ecosystems: seagrass primary production rates, carbon sinks in seagrass systems.
3. Seagrass photosynthesis: carbon concentrating mechanisms, inorganic carbon uptake mechanism, photo-acclimation and adaptation in seagrasses, leaf optical properties, seagrasses as ocean acidification mediators
4. Sediment biogeochemistry and nutrient cycling within seagrass beds
5. Human impacts on seagrasses: Eutrophication, sedimentation and climate change
6. Contribution of genetics and genomics to seagrass biology and conservation
Lab/Field exercises cover the following topics:
1. Methods in monitoring seagrasses
2. Mapping of seagrasses
3. In situ measurements of seagrasses photosynthesis along a depth profile in relation to light (PAM fluorometry)
4. Clumping of chloroplasts (diel cycle)
5. Extraction of pigments from seagrasses along a depth profile
6. Measuring Dissolved Oxygen in seagrass aquariums using the Winkler Method or oxygen sensors
7. Measuring the effect that seagrasses have on surrounding water pH
Text books:
1) Seagrasses: Biology, Ecology and Conservation – Larkum, Orth and Duarte (editors), 2007, Springer.
2) World atlas of seagrasses - Green and Short (2003).
3) Photosynthesis in the marine environment - Beer, Bjork and Beardall (2014).
Prerequisite
Students will be admitted to the course only after taking at least two undergraduate courses in plant sciences (physiology / biology / plant genetics).
The grade structure
Final test 60%. The test takes place during the course.
Work on the projects 15%.
Project presentation during the course 15%.
Participation 10%.
Audience
The course is limited to 18 graduate students in all higher education institutions. Third year undergraduate students will be accepted based on available places and grade.
Language
The language of instruction is Hebrew (3-4 lectures in English by lecturers from abroad via Skype), however, if students who do not speak Hebrew will take part in the course, the language of instruction will be English. If the language of instruction is English, Hebrew speakers will be given the opportunity to take the exam in Hebrew.