This course is not offered in 2017. Please refer to the "Other Information" section at the bottom of the page.
This course explores how physiological processes underpin adaptations in plant form and function along environmental gradients and our ability to both predict and manage natural and agricultural systems under changing environmental scenarios. The course will build on the principles learned in BIOL2115 Comparative Physiology to develop a greater depth of understanding of compromises that plants make in balancing resource use and stress tolerance in a variable environment, and how different strategies of stress tolerance become expressed across scales in function from plant parts (roots, stems and leaves), to whole plants, communities and ecosystems. Field and lab work will give students a solid grounding in plant identification and evaluation of physiological traits in an evolutionary and environmental context.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
On satisfying the requirements of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:- Collect, preserve and identify herbarium specimens in a phylogenetic context.
- Explain how molecular phylogenies can inform studies of evolution of plant form and function
- Recognise how physiological attributes and processes underpin adaptive differentiation of plant structure along environmental gradients
- Describe how physiological processes scale up from the functioning of complex structures such as stems, roots and leaves to whole plants and plant communities
- Clearly articulate how physiological processes affect interactions between plant species and other organisms, particularly the fungi essential for nutrient uptake, in natural and agricultural ecosystems
- Describe how physiological attributes can provide a process-based approach to identifying responses of vegetation to complex environmental change and to developing management tools to address effects of environmental change on natural and agricultural systems .
- Critically analyse experimental data and its variability and present it in appropriate scientific formats.
Other Information
As this course is incompatible with BIOL2122, it will not be offered in 2017. Replacement courses in relevant majors/minors/specialisations have been identified and students should contact the Research School of Biology in Building 116 if they have any difficulties with course choices.Indicative Assessment
- Plant collection and descriptions project (15%; LO 1, 2)
- Four practical reports at 10% each (40%; LO 5, 6, 7)
- Mid-term and final theory exams (45%; LO 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Workload
Two lectures plus one practical of three hours per week, and a field trip to Kioloa field station over one weekend in August. Non-contact time: plant collection approx 30 hrs; practical reports 2 hrs each.Requisite and Incompatibility
Assumed Knowledge
It would also be useful to have taken either BIOL2114 Evolution or BIOL2131 Ecology.Specialisations
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 2
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees. Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2017 | $3444 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2017 | $4590 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.