Courses in English

Chair of botany and physiology of plants

1) Plant physiology

Code No.15648
Credit units: 3 ECTS
Timing: 3th year
Contact person: Assistant of Professor Vera Androsova, Chair of botany and physiology of plants, Lenin St., 33, Room 314. tel.711-019, e-mail: vera28@karelia.ru
Suggested prerequisite: Basic studies in Botany and Biochemistry.
Study mode: Lectures (66 hours), laboratory practical (74 hours), seminar discussions (4 hours) and final examination.
Aim: To give students an understanding of the physiological, biochemical, and molecular biological mechanisms used by plants organisms to e able to grow in various environments an to react to various changes in the environment. Exercises in the laboratory give knowledge about modern methods of study of plant organism functions.
Contents:
(I) Introduction: plant physiology as a science, main purposes, practical meaning history, main problems; (II) Physiology of Plant Cell: structure, peculiarities, membranes organization and functions, water balance of cell; (III) Photosynthesis: principles of spectrophotometry, chlorophylls and other photosynthetic pigments, photosystem I, II, processes of photosynthesis, biochemistry, ATP synthase, C3-,C4- and CAM-metabolisms, ecology; (IV) Respiration: processes, biochemistry, ATP synthase, ecology; (V) Water Balance of Plants: water and plant cell, osmosis, intake of water by plants describe, sources of the plants water supply, wilting coefficient and entrance of water into the root, transpiration and its regulation; (VI) Mineral nutrition: functions of minerals, symptoms of deficiency in essential minerals assimilation of mineral nutrients, nitrogen metabolism; (VII) Translocation in the Phloem: transport of nutrients, distribution nutrients in the plant; (VIII) Growth and Development: the nature of growth, stages in the growth of a plant cell, growth of plant organs, growth curves, periodic elongation, phytohormones , control of flowering, photoperiodism, stratification, vernalization; (IX) Secondary Metabolites and Plant Defense; (X) Stress Physiology: adaptations, repair and protection mechanisms, defense mechanisms and resistance against different environmental factors.
Suggested literature:
Alehin N.D. etc. Plant Physiology. M.: “Academy”. 2005. 640p.
Kuznetcov V.V., Dmitrieva G.A. Plant Physiology. M.: “High School”. 2005. 736p
Journal of Plant Physiology

2) Lichens and monuments of culture

Credit units: 1,5
Contact person and instructor: Associate of Professor Anzhella Sonina. Tel. +78142 711019, e-mail: angella@onego.ru
Suggested prerequisite: Two years of students in Biology or in a related field.
Study mode: Lectures and videotapes (10 hours), laboratory practical (10 hours), excursions (Kizhi Island or Onezhskie Rock Carvings (Petroglyphs) and monuments of culture in Petrozavodsk ), reports, literature reviews, final presentations.
Date: September 2010; May/June 2011
Aim: This course gives an introduction to substrate strategy lichen and to the influence of lichens to condition of cultural heritages.
Contents: Morphology of lichens, anatomy of lichens, origin lichens, reproduction of lichens, systematic of lichens, ecology of lichens. Substrate strategy lichen. The growth of saxicolous lichens in different environmental conditions. The influence lichens on the cultural heritages in Italy. The influence saxicolous lichens on the condition of ancient cultural monument – “The Onega Lake Petroglyphs”. The aggressive biodestructural role of the saxicolous lichens on the rock surface (petroglyphs). The influence lichens on the condition of monuments of wooden architecture (historical complex “Kizhi”).
Suggested literature:
Brodo I.M. Substrate Ecology // The Lichens. – New York, London: Academic Press., 1973. P. 401–442.
Farrar J. F. A method for investigating lichen growth rates and succession // Lichenologist (Oxf.). 1974. Vol. 6. P. 151–155.
Lobanova N. Petroglyphs of the Kochkov-navolok Peninsula: dating, natural environment and the material culture of their creators // Perceiving Rock Art: Social and Political Perspectives. Oslo, 1995. P. 359–366.
Rogers R.W. Ecological strategies of lichens // Lichenologist. 1990. Vol. 22. № 2. P. 149–162.
Seaward M.R.D. Lichen damage to ancient monuments: a case study // Lichenologist. 1988. № 20. P. 291–295.

3) Arctic biology

Code: No.112345
Credit units: 25 ECTS
Period: Autumn semester 2010
Contact person: Associate professor Liudmila Sergienko, Chair of botany and physiology of plants. Lenin St., 33, Room 314. tel.711-019, e-mail: saltmarsh@mail.ru
Suggested prerequisite: Basic studies in Biology and Botany.
Teaching: 50 hrs lectures, 20 hrs seminars, 30 hrs lab exercise, 10 days excursions
Evaluation: Written 5 hrs exam (graded) and report (graded)
Aim: To give students an understanding of the arctic terrestrial and fresh water biological communities. Exercises in the laboratory give knowledge about modern study methods, using in the Arctic Biology. Field activities are undertaken year-round in combination with regular classroom lectures and laboratory exercises. This integrated approach provides students with a first hand experience of the biological processes and the natural history of the terrestrial, limnic and marine flora and fauna in an Arctic environment.
Introduction:
To introduce the structure and function of Arctic terrestrial and fresh water biological communities by focusing on the diversity of adaptations among organisms within a community and their interactions, both within and between tropic levels. The course will give a thorough background for understanding environmental problems in terrestrial and limnic environments.
Contents: The course offers an introduction to terrestrial and fresh water biological communities of the Arctic, approached by considering adaptations of organisms to Arctic terrestrial habitats and how the organism interacts, both within and between tropic levels, with a special emphasis on the White Sea coasts. The role of the physical conditions of the Arctic as well as the biological interactions in shaping Arctic communities will be explored in comparison with communities of other terrestrial and limnic regions, especially those of temperate alpine tundras and subarctic tundras. The structure of plant communities and the representation of different plant growth forms (or functional types) will be studied in relation to climate, geomorphology, and soil microflora and herbivory.
Despite the apparent harshness of the High Arctic, many organisms are well adapted to this environment. The fauna and flora of Svalbard includes more than 1,800 marine invertebrate species, 1,200 terrestrial or freshwater invertebrate species and over 170 higher plant species in addition to the 21 mammal and 28 bird species.
For invertebrates, the emphasis will be on the ecology of those groups that are of greatest significance on the Russian Arctic zone. Limnology is included as an element of this course with both field projects and linked lectures. Among the vertebrates the ecology of terrestrial birds and mammals and freshwater fish will be discussed. The link between terrestrial and marine ecosystems through seabirds and sea-mammals will be discussed, but this will be dealt with in more detail in the next courses.
Suggested literature:
Arctic biology. Ed. Reidar Elven. Cambridge, 2006. 456 p.
ACIA. 2004.Arctic Climate Impact Assessment. Cambridge, 139 p.
Pavlov A.V., Malkova G.V. Modern Climate changes on the North. Novosibirsk, 2005.

Chair of general chemistry

1) Geochemistry of Biosphere

Title: Geochemistry of Biosphere
Responsible person: Chazhengina Svetlana (Lecturer)
Objective of the course is to familiarize the student with basic geochemical principles that can be applied to environmental problems. The focus is on natural and anthropogenic aspects of the biosphere and its interaction with surficial rocks, sediments, soils, hydrosphere, and atmosphere.
Content description:
Geochemistry of systems: Composition and structure of earth crust, hydroshphere, athmosphere and biosphere.
Geochemistry of processes: element migration in the earth-surface conditions, global cycles of biogenic element
Geochemistryof objects: heavy metals, pollutants, isotopes.
Learning objectives: Throughout the course students learn how to interpret and summarize basic principles to explain complex phenomena at the interfaces of chemistry, geology and biology. Student should be able to solve defined enviromental problems using geochemical data. The course is also aimed at improvement of the oral and written skills.
Grading is based on a schedule. It includes 4 tests; 2 homework projects and final exam.
Prerequisites: principles of inorganic chemistry, introductory geology.
Textbooks:
A.I. Perelman. Geochemistry. 1982
V.V. Dobrovolsky. Biogeochemistry foundation. 2002
Supplemental Reading: as needed (Located in the course website).
Lexture notes are available for students to download from the course website.