PLANT SCIENCE

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr C C Wilcock

Pre-requisites

BI 20P1 or BI2505

Overview

This course covers the floristic regions of the world and, in particular, the biogeography of the Northern hemisphere. Special emphasis is given to the floras of Europe and the Mediterranean region. Discontinuous plant distributions, localised distributions and island floras are examined. The origin and evolution of the flora of the Mediterranean region is related to climate change. The course shows how British vegetation can be classified and gives practical experience of identification using the National Vegetation Classification scheme and MATCH computer programme. Resources for conservation are examined, including the role of botanic gardens and herbaria. UK Species Action Plans and the importance of biological information for successful species conservation is also discussed.
6 week course, Thread I: 3 one-hour lectures per week and six hours per week of field trips, fieldwork and tutorials.
1 two-hour examination (67%) and continuous assessment (33%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Professor D Robinson

Pre-requisites

BI 25P1 or SS 2002 or or BI 2001.

Overview

Primary production (The carbon cycle; Biomes; Seasonality; Scaling from leaf to biome); Water use (The hydrological cycle; Coupling between vegetation and atmosphere; Water in soil; Water use efficiency); Soil microbiology & Organic Matter decomposition (Decomposer organisms; Soil respiration; Decomposition kinetics; Root-microbe relations). Nutrient acquisition by plants (Nutrient demand; Nutrients in soil; Nutrient supply; Soil heterogeneity; Nutrient use efficiency). Secondary production (Effects of grazing on nutrient cycling; Energy and resource flow between trophic levels). Ecosystem sustainability, human impacts and feedback effects.
6 week course, Thread II – 16 one-hour lectures, 2 one-hour tutorials, 10 three-hour laboratory practical classes.
1 two-hour examination (67%) and continuous assessment (33%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr W Seel

Pre-requisites

BI 20P1 or BI 25P1.

Overview

The physical and biotic environments are of key importance in determining the survival of organisms. Plants are literally rooted to the spot and cannot get up and walk away from adverse conditions; instead they have evolved remarkable strategies and adaptations which allow them to survive. Understanding these phenomena, and the environmental stimuli that trigger their expression, is crucial to understanding how plants survive in the natural environment, and how to optimise the yield of agriculture and silviculture systems.
The course will cover plant response to irradiance, CO2, drought, desiccation, water-logging, salinity, extremes of temperature, snow, wind, neighbours, beneficial and pathogenic fungi, herbivory and parasitism.
6 week course, Thread II – five hours of lectures per week, 1 four-hour practical, two half-day visits.
1 two-hour written examination (67%) and continuous assessment (33%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr C Gordon

Pre-requisites

BI 2001

Notes

Available only to students in programme year 3 or above.

Overview

Theories of plant community ecology: succession, gradients, niches, competition for resources, modelling ecological processes. Description of plant communities: methods of vegetation survey, classification and monitoring, including Phase II survey and the National Vegetation Classification. Numerical approaches to the analysis of plant community composition and to the relationship between vegetation and environment.
6 week course, Thread II - 3 one-hour lectures per week; 1 one-hour tutorial per week and 1 day of field work or practical exercise per week.
1 two-hour examination (67%) and continuous assessment (33%).

Credit Points

7.5

Course Coordinator

Dr M D Swaine

Pre-requisites

None

Co-requisites

BI 20P1 or BI 2001

Notes

This course will be available in 2002/03 and every alternate year thereafter.

Overview

Variation in forest structure, composition and soil conditions are studied at varying altitudes in the Auvergne, France. Factors influencing forest and soil are examined and the processes of succession at different altitudes compared. A short research project is completed. Tuition is given in tree identification, forest survey and sampling methods, soil profile interpretation and field-based soil analysis techniques.
10 days field work in early September.
Field course report (100%).

Credit Points

45

Course Coordinator

Professor I J Alexander

Pre-requisites

Available only to candidates for Honours in Plant Biology, or Plant and Soil Science.

Overview

An independent research project and associated activities.
Assessment based on project report.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Professor I J Alexander

Pre-requisites

Available only to candidates in Plant Biology or Plant & Soil Science.

Overview

An in depth review of an area of plant biology research chosen in consultation with the Course Co-ordinator. Students are allocated individually to staff members who arrange tutorials and directed reading to introduce the topic. The student conducts a literature search and prepares an in-depth review essay.
6 week course, Thread I – a minimum of 3 tutorials over 6 weeks.
Essay (100%).