Course Identification

An Ocean of Signals - Chemical Communication in the Marine Environment
20253542

Lecturers and Teaching Assistants

Dr. Adva Shemi, Prof. Assaf Vardi, Dr. Daniella Schatz, Prof. Daniel Sher, Dr. Constanze Kuhlisch, Dr. Guy Schleyer
N/A

Course Schedule and Location

2025
Second Semester
Tuesday, 13:00 - 15:00, Weissman, Seminar Rm B
01/04/2025
24/06/2025

Field of Study, Course Type and Credit Points

Life Sciences: Seminar; Elective; Regular; 2.00 points
Chemical Sciences: Seminar; 2.00 points

Comments

N/A

Prerequisites

No

Restrictions

27

Language of Instruction

English

Registration by

19/02/2025

Attendance and participation

Obligatory

Grade Type

Numerical (out of 100)

Grade Breakdown (in %)

10%
45%
45%

Evaluation Type

Seminar

Scheduled date 1

N/A
N/A
-
N/A

Estimated Weekly Independent Workload (in hours)

2

Syllabus

The course includes 12 lectures, 1.5 h each. 

The course evaluation will be based on a research proposal (presentation and a written proposal).

The lectures:

 

Ocean of signals 2025

 1. Marine chemical ecology – an overview (1.4 Daniel)

 2. DMS- a sulfur gas linking microbes and clouds (8.4 Adva) 

 3. The chemical language of algae and their viruses (22.4 Assaf)

 4. Message in a bubble- chemical communication via extracellular vesicles

 (29.4 Daniella) 

 5. Zooming into the Phycosphere (6.5 Adva)

 6. The role of infochemicals during pathogenic interactions (13.5 Adva)

 7. Spying on chemical communication in the ocean (20.5 Conny)

 8. How chemical cues shape predator-prey dynamics (Adva 27.5)

 9. Blurring the division between metabolism and signaling (3.6 Daniel)

 10. Guy-TBD (10.6)

 11. Students seminars

 12. Students seminar + lecture: The chemical ecology of our changing oceans (Adva and Daniella 24.6)

 

Learning Outcomes

The student will gain a broad understanding of marine microbial and chemical ecology, learn about key microbial interactions in the ocean and how they play pivotal environmental roles, and be familiar with the latest discoveries of some of the information-conveying chemicals (infochemicals) that mediate those interactions. Furthermore, the student will be able to understand and discuss the impact of ocean acidification and warming on chemical communication within microbial foodwebs, and on marine habitats in general. 

Reading List

N/A

Website

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