PLANT ECOLOGY
BIO2PE
2019
Credit points: 15
Subject outline
In this subject, students are introduced to the functioning of plants with an emphasis on the Australian flora in their environment of low-nutrient soils, aridity, salinity and fire and including how they interact with other organisms through pollination, fruit dispersal and herbivory. Designing and carrying out ecological experiments to measure plant-animal interactions are an integral part of the practical component, as well as developing skills in identification, observation and drawing.
School: School of Molecular Sciences/LIMS
Credit points: 15
Subject Co-ordinator: Sabine Wilkens
Available to Study Abroad Students: Yes
Subject year level: Year Level 2 - UG
Exchange Students: Yes
Subject particulars
Subject rules
Prerequisites: OED1RAL or BIO1CO or approval of the Subject Coordinator
Co-requisites: N/A
Incompatible subjects: N/A
Equivalent subjects: N/A
Special conditions: N/A
Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes
01. Explain current (and speculate on possible future) adaptations of plants to diverse and changing environments.
- Activities:
- All topics are discussed in lectures; relevant documentaries are shown to illustrate examples; practicals are aligned with lectures, to further illustrate aspects of the topics.
02. Explain current (and speculate on possible future) interactions of plants and animals in a natural ecosystem, by giving examples of herbivory, parasitism, pollination, frugivory and seed dispersal.
- Activities:
- All topics are discussed in lectures; relevant documentaries are shown to illustrate examples; practicals are aligned with lectures, to further illustrate aspects of the topics.
03. Design, undertake and evaluate the results of experiments, by using appropriate hypotheses, controls and simple statistical tests for ecological problems.
- Activities:
- Apart from illustrating aspects of the theory, practicals are also used to illustrate questions of experimental design.
04. Communicate experimental results in a formal report style, through drawings or a poster.
- Activities:
- Scientific drawing and writing up practicals in a standard scientific format will be discussed and extensive feedback given on submitted work. Relevant posters are displayed and discussed at every practical sessions.
05. Identify the common plants of the box-ironbark forest.
- Activities:
- Excursions during practical periods to the local bushland will allow students to become familiar with the local flora.
06. Preserve, display and identify plant material for a weed collection.
- Activities:
- Examples of weed collections are displayed and discussed. Various perspectives of 'what is a weed?' will be incorporated in lectures.
Bendigo, 2019, Semester 2, Day
Overview
Online enrolment: Yes
Maximum enrolment size: N/A
Enrolment information:
Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Sabine Wilkens
Class requirements
Laboratory ClassWeek: 31 - 43
Six 3.0 hours laboratory class per study period on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via face-to-face.
LectureWeek: 31 - 43
One 2.0 hours lecture per week on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via face-to-face.
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % | ILO* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five practical reports, including one poster (total 1,600-words equivalent) | 30 | 03, 04, 05 | |
| One weed collection including 20 pressed specimens (800-words equivalent) | 20 | 06 | |
| One 2-hour end of semester examination | 50 | 01, 02, 03 |