Biodiversity of Cryptogamic Plants and Fungi (P01313)

? Credit Points : 10 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : BIO-P-BCPF

Many cryptogamic plants and fungi are important indicator organisms, increasingly used to monitor environmental change and pollution over timescales of years to millions of years. Their global significance in nutrient cycling and biosphere atmosphere interactions has only become clear in the last few decades. However, expertise in identifying cryptogams is nationally and internationally rare. This course is designed to develop skills in interpreting cryptogam structure, as a basis for identifying algae, fungi, lichens, bryophytes, ferns and their allies, and conifers. Application of these skills in conservation and monitoring will also be discussed. Within the UK, RBGE is unique in being to offer training of this kind.

? Keywords : Cryptogam, Lower plants, algae, fungi, lichens, bryophytes, ferns, pteridophytes

Entry Requirements

? This course is not available to visting students.

? Pre-requisites : BSc or equivalent in Biology or another approved subject Permission of the Course Organiser

? Co-requisites : none, but Evolution of Plants and Fungi would provide a logical theoretical underpinning. The course would also be a valuable complement to the equivalent Lecture and Practical courses on Angiosperm Evolution and Biodiversity.

? Costs : none

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Postgraduate, (School of Biological Sciences, Schedule K)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : Postgraduate

? Delivery Period : Semester 2 (Blocks 3-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

? Other Required Attendance : 8 hour(s) per week for 3 weeks

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Laboratory	Friday	14:00	17:00	External

? Additional Class Information : The course will include three all-day excursions, to be held on Wednesdays

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

1. Ability to recognize the major groups of cryptogamic plants and fungi, and to describe and interpret their morphology.
2. Knowledge of the methods and resources needed to identify selected groups of organisms (important indicator organisms, ecologically significant organisms, etc) to species level (NB methods and resources only; there is no requirement to learn to recognize specific plants or fungi).
3. Awareness of the ecological range and roles of cryptogamic plants and fungi.
4. Awareness of the value of cryptogamic plants and fungi in ecological and palaeoecological monitoring, and a basic understanding of how such monitoring is done (selected groups only).
5. Understanding of the basis state species-level taxonomy in the major groups of cryptogamic plants and an evaluation of how this will affect dependent scientific research and applications.