More Mutualisms- Plant Rhizobium Interactions

Required Readings

Rhizobia-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhizobia

Scientific Literature

Here are some papers from the scientific literature examining this system. If you are interested then take a look at some of these papers. I don't expect you to understand everything in these papers, but I would like you to see the diversity of approaches that moderm scientists are using to study this system.

Lifestyle alternatives for rhizobia: mutualism, parasitism,
and forgoing- symbiosis
http://people.umass.edu/lsadler/adlersite/kiers/Alternativelifestyles1.pdf

Host sanctions and the legume–rhizobium mutualism-
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v425/n6953/abs/nature01931.html (then click on "full text")

A mechanistic molecular test of the plant-sanction hypothesis in legume–rhizobia mutualism
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6VR3-4WPS9PP-1&_user=2605799&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=1100808123&_rerunOrigin=google&_acct=C000055350&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=2605799&md5=491bf0585068046d9ae2f49e3bb7a905

Powerpoint Presentation

Plant-Microbe Interactions: Rhizobia/Legumes
http://www.slideshare.net/secret/AZNj5BIH5bqGC8

Expected Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course a fully engaged student should be able to

- discuss how and why participants in an apparently mutualistic relationship should be "selfish"

- describe the pattern of nodule formation

- discuss the importance of nitrogenase and leghaemogolbin for nitrogen fixation

- discuss circumstances under which plants would like to limit nodulation or nitrogen fixation by rhizobia

- discuss "partner choice" and "santioning" in this system

Mutualisms: Coral Reefs (& a little bit about coral diseases)

Readings

Coral reefs- http://www.eoearth.org/article/Coral_reef

Threats to Coral Reefs-
http://www.eoearth.org/article/Threats_to_coral_reefs

Cnidaria- http://www.eoearth.org/article/Cnidaria

Zooxanthellae- http://www.eoearth.org/article/Zooxanthellae

Global warming takes a toll on coral reefs
http://www.eoearth.org/article/Global_warming_takes_a_toll_on_coral_reefs

Patterns of Caribbean coral loss
http://www.eoearth.org/article/Patterns_of_Caribbean_coral_loss

Coral disease-
http://www.reef.crc.org.au/discover/coralreefs/Coraldisease.htm

Coral stress and disease
http://www.reefrelief.org/Image_archive/diseases/index.shtml

Powerpoint Presentation

http://www.slideshare.net/secret/MXAjnaF502X8PL

Expected Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course a fully engaged student will be able to

- discuss the characteristics or the cnidarian polyps and zooxanthellae that make up a corals

- discuss the "dilema of the inverteed trophic pyramid" and the role that the discovery of zooxanthellae played in solving that mystery

- discuss the mutualism between cnidarian polyps and zooxanthellae

- discuss some of the threats facing coral reefs

- discuss coral bleaching and some of the proposed mechanisms of bleaching

- discuss the characteristics of some of the important coral diseases

Community Ecology

Suggested Readings

Community Ecology- http://www.eoearth.org/article/Community_ecology

Competition- http://www.eoearth.org/article/Competition

Interspecific Competition- http://www.eoearth.org/article/Interspecific_competition

Exploitative Competition- http://www.eoearth.org/article/Exploitative_competition

Predation- http://www.eoearth.org/article/Predation

Mutualism- http://www.eoearth.org/article/Mutualism

Expected Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course a fully engaged student should be able to

- define competition, exploitative competition and interference competition

- identify and explain examples of exploitative and interference competition from a variety of environments

- define predation (narrow and broad sense), herbivory, and parasitms

- identify and explain examples of predation, herbivory, and parasitism from a variety of environments

- identify examples of morphological and behavioral adaptations that animals have to help capture their food

- identify examples of morphological, biochemical, or behavioral adaptations that animals have to protect them from predators

- identify and explain examples of mutualisms from a variety of habitats

- explain the results of Connell's experiment examining competition between two species of barnacles (Fig. 54.3) and Paine's experiment examining predation by the starfish Pisaster (Fig. 54.15)

- define a keystone species and an ecosystem engineer and provide examples of each.

Dead Zones

Required Readings

http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/translating-uncle-sam/stories/what-is-the-gulf-of-mexico-dead-zone

http://www.smm.org/deadzone/

http://serc.carleton.edu/microbelife/topics/deadzone/

Expected Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course a fully engaged student should be able to

- define "dead zones"

- discuss the causes of dead zones

- discuss some of the ecological and social problems associated with dead zones

Eutrophication

Required Readings

http://www.eoearth.org/article/Eutrophication

http://www.eoearth.org/article/Hypoxia_fact_sheet

Expected Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course a fully engaged student should be able to

- define eutrophication

- discuss the causes of eutrophicationb

- discuss some ecological and social results of eutrophication

- discuss mitigation of eutrophication

2011 2nd Warmest Summer on Record in the US

According to NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), 2011 was the second warmest summer ever recorded in the US.

http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2011/20110908_auguststats.html

Governor Rick Perry's Comments on Climate Change at Sept. 7th Debate

Here is a link to a video with Governor Perry's answer to a question about climate change at the Republican Presidential Candidates' Debate on September 7, 2011.

**I am sorry that I couldn't find a clip on youtube that lacked a "comment" in the title of the video- I'll report, you decide ****

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYOQDz9Gt0Q