Fungi and Ecosystems, Fall 2009

BIOL 459/559; EVPP 451/551

SYLLABUS:

Instructor: Dr. Torzilli

Email: atorzill@gmu.edu Web Page: http://mason.gmu.edu/~atorzill/biography/ Office Hrs. Wed. 3-4:15 PM

Day Subject Text

9/2 Introduction; Fungal Diversity Handout

9/9 Fungal Diversity, Fungal Structure "

9/16 Spores and Spore Dispersal "

9/23 Spore Dispersal "

9/30 Fungal Growth "

10/7 EXAM 1

10/14 Fungi and Primary Productivity: Making Nutrients Available Chaps 1&2

10/21 Fungi and Primary Productivity: Plant Growth & Carbon Fixation Chap 3

10/28 Fungi and Primary Productivity: Plant Growth & Carbon Fixation Chap 3

11/4 EXAM 2

11/11 Fungi and Secondary Productivity: Fungal-Faunal Interactions Chap 4

11/18 Molecular Techniques in Fungal Ecology selected readings

11/25 THANKSGIVING BREAK selected readings

12/2 Molecular Techniques in Fungal Ecology

12/9 Graduate Student Presentations

Text: Fungi in Ecosystem Processes, by John Dighton, 2003 (on reserve)

Methods of Instruction:

Since the text is on reserve, lectures will be supplemented with numerous handouts as well as online sources of fungal information. During the last class, each graduate student will present to the class a detailed discussion of a scientific journal article dealing with some aspect of fungal ecology that has been covered in the course, the topic of which will be chosen in consultation with the instructor. Lecture exams will consist of mostly of short essay questions that will test a student’s understanding and application of principles covered in lecture Grading:

Graduate Students Undergraduates

Lecture Exams 100 pts. x 2 = 200 pts 100 pts. x 2 = 200 pts

Final Exam* 100 pts 100 pts

Class Presentation 50 pts (Not Applicable)

TOTAL 350 pts 300 pts

Grading for graduate students will be more demanding than for undergraduates, based on their more advanced academic experience. The use of +/- grading is at the discretion of the instructor.

* The Final Exam will have an OPTIONAL comprehensive section (100 pts.--covering material from the prior lecture exams) for those who wish to make up a low grade on one of the lecture exams. If the score on the comprehensive part is higher than lowest grade on the previous lecture exams, it will substitute for that low grade. Otherwise, it will not be included in the grading and the lecture exam grade will stand.

Course Goals:

Because fungi are not highly visible organisms in ecosystems, they are often overlooked as important contributors to ecosystem function. Most microbiology courses, in fact, pay short shrift to these eukaryotic microbes, which nonetheless represent an entire kingdom. Therefore, the goals of this course are:

1) to provide students with a basic knowledge of fungal biology, particularly those aspects that relate to their impact at the ecosystem level.

2) to examine the impact of fungi on ecosystem processes such as biogeochemical cycling, primary (plant) production, and secondary (animal) production.

3) to introduce students to molecular techniques currently being employed by fungal ecologists.

4) to identify the important gaps in our understanding of fungal ecology that should provide direction for future research.

Dates to note: Final Drop Deadline, 10/2; Final Exam: Wed, 12/16, 4:30 – 7:15 PM