Soil Ecology and Biogeochemical Cycles

The educational objective of this course unit is to provide an overview of the major soil types on a global scale, explain their formation, and identify the mineral phases or primary abiotic factors that may regulate biological activity in soils. Based on this analysis, the various soil organisms (microorganisms, micro-, meso-, and macrofauna) will be presented, along with their interactions, in order to contextualize the cycles of organic matter and mineral elements in the soil across different temporal and spatial scales. The concepts of recycling, the closure of biogeochemical cycles, and the principles governing community assembly will also be addressed. This course unit is organized around lectures and presentations, as well as tutorial sessions and fieldwork.

"Knowledge: Explain the distribution of the major soil types across the planet; understand their main physicochemical characteristics and how these characteristics influence biogeochemical cycles and biological activities; understand the diversity of soil organisms and their functions

Skills: Based on published experimental results, analyze the roles of soil organisms in biogeochemical cycles; assess in the field the main manifestations and conditions of a soil’s biological functioning."

Basic knowledge of general ecology and biogeochemical cycles

Experience in Literature Review

Ability to analyze scientific publications in English.

Comprehensive ongoing assessment: 100%