Microbial ecology of alpine freshwater ecosystems

• Fieldwork: different techniques for sampling periphyton (mainly Diatoms) and fungi from various streams and lakes of the Piora valley and the physicochemical characterization of the sampling sites (2 days).
• Labwork: sample preparation, microscopic identification, introduction to dichotomous keys for both organism groups (2 days).
• Data analysis: analysis and interpretation of diversity and community composition with knowledge of the physicochemical conditions of the streams and lakes, and of the scientific literature.
• Seminars: introduction to the ecological background of periphyton and fungi in streams. Introduction to molecular techniques and their use in taxonomy and ecological applications.