Molecular Ecology and Evolutionary Biology of Biotic Interactions

(new focus subject from WS 26/27)

Organising working groups:

Note! This focus subject is new starting in the 26/27 winter semester and is therefore intended for students who begin their studies in the 26/27 winter semester.

Students who started before the winter semester 26/27 may choose the focus subject “Molecular Ecology and Evolutionary Biology”. The contents of the new focus subject “Molecular Ecology and Evolutionary Biology of Biotic Interactions” are also part of the focus subject “Molecular Ecology and Evolutionary Biology”.

Theoretical Module - Molecular Ecology and Evolutionary Biology of Biotic Interactions

BIO-M-TM-EEBI

Module coordinator: Prof. Dr. Lena Wilfert

Module contents
Lectures covering the foundations of molecular, behavioral and evolutionary ecology and evolutionary biology with a focus on biotic interactions. Seminars comprising instructions for presentation techniques, talk design and literature search as well as presentation and discussion of a research based topic in the mentioned fields.

No.	Module component	CP	proof of academic achievement
1.	at least two lectures in the field of molecular ecology and evolutionary biology (for a selection see SPUR)*	6	Portfolio (collection of exercises and reflective tasks completed alongside the lectures) Please ask the module coordinator about the requirements. Once it has been finalised, the portfolio must be registered in FlexNow. The portfolio is not graded.
2.	one seminar in the field of molecular ecology and evolutionary biology (for a selection see SPUR)*	2	seminar presentation, regular participation You must register for the seminars. Information on how to register see in SPUR. Once you have attended a seminar, it must be registered in FlexNow. The seminar is not graded.
3.	30 min oral examination covering the entire module (graded)	4	Examiners: Prof. Dr. Lena Wilfert PD Dr. Eva Schultner PD Dr. Tamara Pokorny Dr. Christoph Kurze The student may choose one of the examiners. Please get in contact with the examiner of your choice to arrange a date of the oral examination, than register the examination in FlexNow. The oral examination is graded (= module grade).

*Note! If you are unsure which lectures and seminars to choose, please contact the module coordinator for advice. Your choice may depend on which examiner you select for the module examination.

Module download:

For students starting in the winter semester 26/27 or later: BIO-M-TM-EEBI (pdf) (öffnet neues Fenster). (nicht barrierefrei)

Choose one practical module:

Practical Module - Molecular Ecology and Evolutionary Biology of Biotic Interactions

BIO-M-PM-MEEBI

Module coordinator: Prof. Dr. Lena Wilfert (externer Link, öffnet neues Fenster)

Module contents
Individually supervised project on various aspects of molecular and evolutionary ecology of biotic interactions Presentation and discussion of own experimental gained data

Module component	CP	proof of academic achievement
Laboratory course: Evolutionary Ecology of Biotic Interactions (54573, link SPUR (externer Link, öffnet neues Fenster)) (6 weeks; time to be arranged with the person responsible)	12	Portfolio (graded)*

*The portfolio examination contains following:

Internship report of 4.000–10.000 words, including a bibliography,
scientific presentation (15-30 min),
practical scientific work,
data, protocols, and records -including electronic data- from scientific work, prepared in accordance with the principles of good scientific practice.

The grade of the portfolio is based on the evaluation of the report, the presentation, and the practical work in the lab. The supervisor of the laboratory course can use a template for the evaluation - Evaluation of a practical module - PDF (öffnet neues Fenster) (externer Link, öffnet neues Fenster).
The completed evaluation should then be given to the student as feedback.

Module download:

For students starting in the winter semester 26/27 or later: BIO-M-PM-MEEBI (pdf) (öffnet neues Fenster). (nicht barrierefrei)

Practical Module - Molecular Ecology and Evolutionary Biology of Social Insects

BIO-M-PM-MEESI

Module coordinator: PD Dr. Eva Schultner

Module contents
Individually supervised project on various aspects of social evolution Presentation and discussion of own experimental gained data

Module component	CP	proof of academic achievement
Laboratory course: Development, behavior and evolution of insects (54544, link SPUR (externer Link, öffnet neues Fenster)) (6 weeks; time to be arranged with the person responsible)	12	Portfolio (graded)*

*The portfolio examination contains following:

Internship report of 4.000–10.000 words, including a bibliography,
scientific presentation (15-30 min),
practical scientific work,
data, protocols, and records -including electronic data- from scientific work, prepared in accordance with the principles of good scientific practice.

Module download:

For students starting before the winter semester 26/27: BIO-M-PM-MEESI (pdf) (öffnet neues Fenster). (nicht barrierefrei)

For students starting in the winter semester 26/27 or later: BIO-M-PM-MEESI (pdf) (öffnet neues Fenster). (nicht barrierefrei)

Practical Module - Chemical Ecology

BIO-M-PM-CE

Module coordinator: PD Dr. Tamara Pokorny

Module contents
realisation of own projects on the communication of insects via chemical cues and signals development of hypotheses and experimental design computer-aided behavioural observations (The Observer XT) isolation and fractionation of natural products identification of behaviour modifying natural products in nanogram amounts by coupled gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) statistical significance tests for the analysis of the acquired data adequate presentation and discussion of the own data

Module component	CP	proof of academic achievement
Laboratory course: Chemical ecology (54549, link SPUR (externer Link, öffnet neues Fenster)) (6 weeks; time to be arranged with the person responsible)	12	Portfolio (graded)*

*The portfolio examination contains following:

Internship report of 4.000–10.000 words, including a bibliography,
scientific presentation (15-30 min),
practical scientific work,
data, protocols, and records -including electronic data- from scientific work, prepared in accordance with the principles of good scientific practice.

The grade of the portfolio is based on the evaluation of the report, the presentation, and the practical work in the lab. The supervisor of the laboratory course can use a template for the evaluation - Evaluation of a practical module - PDF (externer Link, öffnet neues Fenster).
The completed evaluation should then be given to the student as feedback.

Module download pdf

For students starting before the winter semester 26/27: BIO-M-PM-CE pdf (öffnet neues Fenster). (nicht barrierefrei)

For students starting in the winter semester 26/27 or later: BIO-M-PM-CE (pdf) (öffnet neues Fenster). (nicht barrierefrei)

Practical Module - Molecular Ecology of Insect-Microbe Interactions

BIO-M-PM-IMI

Module coordinator: Dr. Christoph Kurze

Module contents
Interaction of insects with fungi and bacteria as competitors, pathogens or symbionts; for example external and internal immune defence, protection of larval food against microbial degradation Planning of the scientific approach, experimental design Isolation and identification of insect associated microorganisms using microbiological and molecular methods Extraction and isolation of bioactive/antimicrobial compounds Identification of bioactive/antimicrobial compounds by means of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MC) Characterisation of bioactive/antimicrobial compounds using various microbiological assays Statistical analysis of the data Consequences of insect-microbe interactions for survival Scientific essay, oral presentation and discussion of the results

Module component	CP	proof of academic achievement
Laboratory course: Molecular ecology of insect-microbe interactions (54541, link SPUR (externer Link, öffnet neues Fenster)) (6 weeks; time to be arranged with the person responsible)	12	Portfolio (graded)*

*The portfolio examination contains following:

Internship report of 4.000–10.000 words, including a bibliography,
scientific presentation (15-30 min),
practical scientific work,
data, protocols, and records -including electronic data- from scientific work, prepared in accordance with the principles of good scientific practice.

The grade of the portfolio is based on the evaluation of the report, the presentation, and the practical work in the lab. The supervisor of the laboratory course can use a template for the evaluation - Evaluation of a practical module - PDF (öffnet neues Fenster). (externer Link, öffnet neues Fenster)
The completed evaluation should then be given to the student as feedback.

Module download pdf

For students starting before the winter semester 26/27: BIO-M-PM-IMI (pdf) (öffnet neues Fenster). (nicht barrierefrei)

For students starting in the winter semester 26/27 or later: BIO-M-PM-IMI (pdf) (öffnet neues Fenster). (nicht barrierefrei)

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