Module BIOL2271: PLANT BIOLOGY

Department: Biological and Biomedical Sciences

BIOL2271: PLANT BIOLOGY

Prerequisites

Corequisites

• (Evolutionary Biology (BIOL2241) AND Pure and Applied Population Ecology (BIOL2281)) OR Experimental Plant Sciences (BIOL2291).

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To promote an understanding of the diversity, ecophysiology, ecological/economic importance and conservation of plant life.

Content

• Angiosperms.
• Diversity.
• Taxonomy.
• Vegetative diversity.
• Floral Evolution.
• Pollination.
• Seed.
• development, dispersal, germination.
• Major plant families.
• Insectivorous plants.
• Taxonomy, phylogeny and evolution.
• The Economic Importance and Exploitation of Botanical Resources.
• Food.
• Secondary compounds.
• Pharmaceuticals.
• Fibre.
• Building materials.
• Energy from biomass.
• Pollution control and land reclamation.
• Horticulture.
• Plant breeding.
• Threats to wild plant biodiversity, with case studies.
• The role of botanic gardens.
• Conservation of rare species.
• Genetic conservation.
• Biotechnology.
• Plants and climate change.
• Durham University Botanic Garden.
• Acquisition and partitioning of Carbon.
• Photosynthetic acquisition of carbon.
• Carbon budget of the whole plant.
• Carbon budget of plant communities.
• Acquisition and Partitioning of Nutrients.
• Plant adaptation to nutrient availability and uptake form extreme soil environments.
• Temperature and growth.
• Water and growth.
• Genetic vs.
• Environmental Control of Ecophysiological Processes.
• Extreme environments (Case studies putting theory into context).

Learning Outcomes

• By the end of this module each student should be able to: Be aware of the diversity and functional significance of morpological, reproductive and anatomical structures found amongst angiosperms.
• Appreciate the extent to which angiosperm biodiversity provides economically important commodities that are essential to human welfare, and understand some important ways in which angiosperms can be manipulated to enhance production of these commodities.
• Be aware of some major threats to angiosperm diversity, and ways in which the effects of these can be minimised.
• Understand the ways in which plants acquire and partition carbon and mineral elements.
• Appreciate the effects of temperature and water supply on plant growth, and the extent to which plant growth is genetically and environmentally regulated.
• Be aware of the range of adaptations to extreme environments that are found in plants.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Teaching and learning in this component is primarily through the means of lectures.
• Skills will be acquired through the manipulation and presentation of data.
• Knowledge and understanding will be formatively assessed through the use of MCQs and a data handling exercise, and summatively assessed by means of data-handling exercise and by a written examination.
• These modes of assessment are designed to assess both the extent of students' knowledge and understanding, and their ability to apply this in an appropriate context.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

MCQs to assess knowledge plus data-handling exercise to test ability to apply knowledge.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University