EAS 3555

Marine Microbes and Disease in a Changing Ocean

Course Description

Course information provided by the 2025-2026 Catalog.

Marine microorganisms fuel globally significant elemental cycles through their activities. They also drive diseases in multicellular life through pathogenesis, modulation of host-associated microbiomes, and through induction of stressors (e.g. toxins, hypoxia). The purpose of this course is to provide junior- and senior-level students a background in biological oceanography, marine microbial ecology, biogeochemistry, and disease pathogenesis in marine habitats. The emphasis of the course is on understanding how biology affects and is affected by the oceans, and how organisms interact to produce ocean biological phenomena. The course is divided into 4 modules: 1) Marine microbial diversity and ocean structure; 2) Ocean biogeochemistry; 3) Marine disease pathogenesis; and 4) Pollution and climate change. This course will equip students with foundations for further undergraduate courses in ocean sciences and environmental dynamics, and for graduate studies in biological oceanography and marine biology.

Prerequisites REF-FA25/Corequisites REF-FA25 BIOEE 1610, BIOEE 1780. Corequisites: None.

Distribution Requirements (BSC-AG, OPHLS-AG), (BIO-AS)

Exploratory Studies (CU-SBY)

Last 4 terms offered (None)

Outcomes REF-FA25

• Describe the taxonomic and functional diversity of marine microorganisms in both natural and human influenced habitats of the ocean.
• Examine the contributions of each group of marine organisms, from viruses through metazoa, to overall ecosystem function and elemental cycling.
• Access the current threats to marine ecosystems on local and global scales through pollution and climate change.
• Describe how microorganisms cause disease and how diseases influence marine ecosystems.

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