PMB 120 Biology of Algae 2 units MW 10-11 PMB 120L 2 units W 1-5 Spring Semesters Associate Professor Kris Niyogi

Algae are some of the most amazing and diverse organisms on the planet. As a group of mostly photosynthetic organisms, they are responsible for nearly half of the global primary production of organic matter. Around 3 billion years ago, the production of oxygen by algae fundamentally changed Earth’s biogeochemistry and redirected the course of evolution. Today, the critical role of algae as primary producers has profound implications for many ecosystems, especially with the current problem of rising atmospheric carbon dioxide levels due to human activities. Algae come in lots of colors and shapes, ranging in size from picoplanktonic green cyanobacteria that dominate the open oceans to giant kelps that grow in lush brown forests along the coast of California. Symbiotic associations of algae with other organisms abound in nature, from lichens to coral reefs. In perturbed environments, some algae can grow out of control, forming toxic blooms (“red tides”) that are harmful to fish, marine mammals, and humans. On the other hand, algae are significant food sources and dietary supplements for many people -- sushi just wouldn’t be the same without algae.

Biology of Algae will introduce you to the diversity of algae, how this diversity arose, and how algae are related to plants and other organisms. Interesting aspects of algal biology from biochemistry to ecology to biotechnology will be covered in lectures, discussions of recent papers from the primary research literature, and laboratory experiments. Highlights of the laboratory course include a semester-long project lab on isolation and identification of algae from environmental samples, as well as several field trips in the East Bay and coastal intertidal zone.