Course : Marine Algae, 13 June ? 16 July 2005, FRIDAY HARBOR LABORATORIES, UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON

SUMMER COURSE "MARINE ALGAE"

13 June ? 16 July 2005
FRIDAY HARBOR LABORATORIES, UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
http://depts.washington.edu/fhl/

Instructors:  Dr. Charles J. O'Kelly (cokelly@bigelow.org)
                     Dr. Paul W. Gabrielson (drseaweed@hotmail.com)

The theme of the course is "principles, methods, and applications of marine algal biodiversity studies", in particular the macro- and microalgae of benthic environments. Students will learn:    

* traditional and contemporary methods for the identification, classification, and phylogenetic analysis of algae;

* the theories underlying the methods;

* the application of biodiversity information in, for example, benthic ecology, cellular evolution, and natural products exploration.

Students will gain practical experience in such tools as specimen collection, preservation, and databasing; light and electron microscopy; culturing macro- and microalgae; DNA isolation and sequencing; computational approaches to phylogeny reconstruction. Field work will be extensive, as the diverse and species-rich aquatic habitats on and around San Juan Island provide ideal sites for the examination of both macroalgal and microalgal diversity. We will emphasize the use of combined approaches to answer questions. Individual and group projects will use morphological, ecological and molecular data to assess the diversity of algal populations and interpret that diversity in its ecological context. Sample questions: "How do we identify outliers of a morphologically highly variable or of an ecologically broad macroalgal species?" "What is the best way to find out what, and how many, species are present in an algal bloom?"

At the end of the course, students will be able to use several of the tools now available to identify and classify algae and to critically assess the value of these tools in studies of algal biodiversity and marine benthic ecosystems. This course is appropriate for marine biologists, botanists and oceanographers with interests in marine biodiversity, conservation biology, and coastal ecology with an emphasis on primary producers.

We encourage applications from graduate students and advanced undergraduates (juniors, seniors). Enrollment is limited to 12 students.  Further information, including registration forms and financial aid applications, is online at:

http://depts.washington.edu/fhl/stuops.html