| CODE | BIO2020 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Plant Biology | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 7 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Biology | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | Aspects of plant physiology, adaptation and function will be illustrated by reference to the translocation of photosynthates, and nutritional interrelationships involving autotrophs. A treatment of structural and functional plant anatomy based on both histology and gross morphology. Development and reproduction in angiosperms. Adaptations to water availability. Brief treatment of Mediterranean plant communities. Translocation of photosynthates: • The phloem. Models of phloem structure in relation to function. • Nature of photosynthates. • Theories of translocation mechanisms and their evaluation. Water relations: • Cells and water • Water uptake and transport • Stomatal action • Ion uptake: Passive and active Aspects of the chemical ecology of plants: • Overview of secondary metabolites produced by plants • Utilization by plants to control their environment, competitors, browsers and pathogens. Plant Growth, Development and Reproduction: • Meristems • Plant growth hormones • The role of phytohormones in development and reproduction. • An account of micro- and megaspore formation in Angiosperms with reference to Gymnosperms. • Development of male and female gametophytes. Nutritional interrelationships involving autotrophs: * Mutualism: Mycorrhizal associations; Nitrogen fixation symbiosis; Lichen associations and animal/autotroph associations. * Parasitic plants (excluding fungi) with special reference to parasitic tracheophytes. * Commensalism: autotrophic epiphytes and epizoonts. The Cell Wall: Composition and adaptations Plant Anatomy: General structure of a tracheophyte. Histology to include treatment of the various plant tissue types with special emphasis on the functional aspect. Adaptation to different water availability regimes: • xerophytes • halophytes • hydrophytes • helophytes Floral structure: The structure of the flower as exemplified by some important plant families: e.g.Brassicaceae, Fabaceae, Asteraceae, Liliaceae (s.l.), Poaceae. Mediterranean plant communities: • Mediterranan climate • Sclerophyll vegetation • Rupestral, wetland and coastal habitats. The study-unit includes an integrated programme of practical work (approxim8 sessions of six hours each hours) covering the topics discussed in lectures. Students will be required to write regular practical reports. Important note: Students are to note that for assessment purpose, the practical component of this study-unit is compulsory and non-compensatable. This means that no grade will be awarded for this study-unit, unless they attend all practical sessions and unless their average mark for the practical reports is a minimum of 45%. Furthermore, students are informed that regular lecture attendance is obligatory. A grade may be awarded to a particular study-unit only if the student's attendance to lectures and practical sessions has been regular. Study-unit Aims: This study-unit introduces students to aspects of plant physiology, adaptation and function as well as plant structure. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: (1) Describe the structure of a generalised higher plant and identify features of taxonomic importance. (2) Appreciate and describe the nutritional relationships involving various plant groups. (3) Describe the processes involved in the transport of water and photosynthates through the plant body. (4) Describe and appreciate the adaptations of plants to different water regimes. (5) Describe the processes involved in plant development and reproduction. (6) Describe and appreciate the different roles of phytohormones in plant growth and development. (7) Describe the principal plant communities of the Mediterranean region. (8) Describe and appreciate the diverse biological functions of secondary metabolites in plants. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: (1) Critically appraise various points of view when explaining the same phenomenon. (2) Explain complex processes by starting from the basic principles of science. (3) Identify a number of distinctive species. (4) Interpret morphological structures as adaptations to environmental pressures. (5) Interpret chemical signatures or visual cues associated with plants as survival adaptations. (6) Work as part of a team and apply collaborative skills to solve problems or complete laboratory or field work exercises (7) Organise and interpret data collected from lab-based experiments or field work and communicate these findings in a written form or verbal interview. (8) Critically appraise and interpret data in the published literature related to particular aspects of the study unit. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: RAVEN, PH; EVERT, RF & EICHORN SE (2005). Biology of plants. WH Freeman & Co Ltd. TAIZ, L & ZEIGER E. (2006). Plant physiology. Sinauer Associates. BOWSHER, C., STEER, M. and TOBIN, A. (2008) Plant Biochemistry, Garland Science. ESAU, K (1977) Anatomy of Seed Plants. Wiley MAUSETH, JD (1988) Plant Anatomy. Benjamin/Cummings. MOORE, R; CLARK, WD & VODOPICH, DS (1998) Botany [2nd ed] WCB, McGraw-Hill. Supplementary reading BLONDEL, J, ARONSON, J, BODIOU, JY, BOEUF, G (2010) The Mediterranean region: Biological diversity in space and time. Oxford University Press. FOSKET, D (1994) Plant Growth and Development: a molecular approach. Academic Press, New York. LANFRANCO, S. (2002) – l-ambjent naturali tal-Gzejjer Maltin. PIN. LYNDON, R. F (1990) Plant Development: the cellular basis. Unwin Hyman, London. NASH, TH (2008). Lichen Biology. [second edition] Cambridge University Press POLUNIN, O 7 WALTERS, M (1985) – A guide to the vegetation of Britain and Europe. Oxford University Press. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Pre-Requisite: B.Sc. (Hons) 1st Year Study-Units or equivalent Students are to note that they will be allowed to sit for this study-unit examination and will be awarded a grade only if they have regularly attended lectures and practical classes, if they have submitted any assignments, including practical reports and if they satisfy all other study-unit requirements. Please note that a pass in the Practical component is obligatory for an overall pass mark to be awarded. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Practical | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Leanne Camilleri Joseph Buhagiar Sandro Lanfranco |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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