Excursion, December 19, 2001
 
for Students of the "Microbial Ecology" course and for guests.
 
 
Contents
Thermotolerant Cyanobacterial communities growing as mats in
cooling towers of atomic power plants
 
  • Certain Cyanobacteria are capable of growing under elevated temperatures in outflows of thermal springs, e.g. in Yellowstone National Park, on Iceland and at other volcanically active locations. The ecological conditions in cooling towers (humid, warm, light penetration, nutrients in the cooling water, large surface areas, etc.) are optimal for the selection and enrichment of thermotolerant and thermophilic cyanobacteria.
 
  • We expect to find a number of different types of cyanobacteria and algae, even in the winter.
 
Location
Atomic Power Plant, Leibstadt, AG
Date
Wednesday afternoon, December 19, 2001
Travel
By bus. We depart at 13.00 from the Zollikerstreet parking field of the Botanical Garden
Program
 

14.00

Welcome and short introduction in the functioning of the power plant at the information center of KKL. Refreshments.

14.30

Guided tour through the power plant with special emphasis on the pump house and the cooling tower. Collection of mat samples.

16.00

Departure

17.00

Arrival at the parking field of the Botanical Garden, end of excursion. Analysis of the samples in the lab immediately and on Thursday morning after the lectures.
Preparation
Please wear warm cloths since part of the tour will be outside. You will need an identification with photo in order to be permitted to the plant's premises.
Costs
There will be no costs for course participants
Insurance
This is the participants responsibility.
Registration
Please send an e-mail to hanselma@botinst.unizh.ch
Information
Kurt Hanselmann, Institute of Plant Biology / Microbiology, University of Zürich, Zollikerstrasse 107, 8008 Zürich. Tel. 01/ 6348284 or 01/6348211. E-Mail: hanselma@botinst.unizh.ch