Undergraduate Course: Plant Physiological Ecology (ECSC10039)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course introduces the science of Physiological Plant Ecology with a strong focus on plant water relations and how recent climate change is affecting these. Plant Physiological Ecology teaches how plants function, grow and survive in their ecosystems and understanding Physiological Plant Ecology underpins food security, ecosystem restoration and the understanding of water as a resource. The course is set to inspire students to learn and think about how terrestrial ecosystems work and function, and what challenges they will be facing in the future. The course brings the underlying theory of plant functioning together with practical hand-on learning in the laboratory. A three hours' practical, which will take place every week is accompanied with alternating weekly 1.5-hour lectures and group tutorials. |
| Course description |
The causation and consequences from the different speed of water transport in plants will be the main topic discussed throughout the course. Students will learn about the backgrounds to water conduction and growth in plants, as well as the effects and responses to drought stress. This will be brought in context with future climate change predictions and therefore provide the students with the conceptual framework and understanding of what the biggest challenges for Physiological Plant Ecology in the future will be.
The course consists of two 2 major components:
1. Background Theory
To cover theoretical background knowledge, 1.5-hour lectures will be held every second week during the semester. In the weeks between the lectures there will be a tutorial discussing recent research relevant to the topic covered in the lecture.
The lectures will cover the following topics:
The working plant
Soil-Plant-Atmosphere continuum
The transport of water
Plant water relations
Plant physiology in a changing climate
2. Practical experience
A three-hour practical will take place each week. The practical sessions will consist of a one-hour introduction to the topic and 2 hours practical work in the laboratory. In week 1, the course will make an additional external visit to the SBS plant growth facilities.
The following topics will be covered each week:
Week 1: Leaf anatomy
Week 2: Transpiration and adaptation of the leaf
Week 3: Trichomes, crystals and secretion
Week 4: Structure function and ecology of stomata
Week 5: Anatomy of the vascular bundle
Week 6: Biology of trees ¿ structure and function of the plant stem (gymnosperms)
Week 7: Biology of trees - structure and function of the plant stem (angiosperms)
Week 8: Hydraulic conductivity
Week 9: Poikilohydry and photosynthesis
Week 10: Growth and biomass allocation
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2022/23, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
196 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
30 %,
Coursework
70 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Final exam (30% of the final mark) ¿ See learning outcomes 1 and 2 «br /»
Course work (70% of the final mark) ¿ See learning outcomes 3, 4, 5 «br /»
Course work consists of lab reports and scientific drawings which will be submitted each week. «br /»
Course work submissions from week 3-10 will be each worth 10% of the final course mark. Submissions in week 1 and 2 will be used for formative feedback. To pass the course, exam and coursework have to be passed with a minimal pass mark of 40%. |
| Feedback |
Staff to student feedback:
Each lecture is accompanied by a tutorial in the following week. This tutorial will provide opportunity for 1:1 verbal interaction and feedback on performance and the development of critical thinking skills.
Individual detailed written feedback will be provided with the lab report every week. The first two coursework submissions (week 1 and 2) will be used to give formative feedback
An exam revision session will be organised
Student to staff feedback:
To encourage bottom-up feedback there will be a mid-course feedback session. This will be a discussion forum accompanied with a feedback from that the students can fill out anonymously
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| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- demonstrate and work with knowledge that covers and integrates most of the principal areas of Plant Physiological Ecology and they will have a critical understanding of the principle theories and concepts that explain plant functioning
- apply skills and understanding in executing a defined investigation and be able to identify and implement the relevant outcomes
- demonstrate some originality and creativity in dealing with manipulative experiments in Plant Physiological Ecology
- use a wide range of routine skills in Plant Physiological Ecology and know how to present their findings to an informed audience
- manage complex practical tasks in accordance with the current practical code of conduct
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Reading List
Plant Ecology. Authors: Schulze, E.-D., Beck, E., Buchmann, N., Clemens, S., Müller-Hohenstein, K., Scherer-Lorenzen, M. Springer. ISBN 978-3-662-56231-4. Chapters: Physiological and biophysical plant ecology (ecophysiology of plants: thermal balance, water, nutrient, carbon relations)
Physiological Plant Ecology; Ecophysiology and Stress Physiology of Functional Groups. Author: Larcher, W. Springer: ISBN 978-3-540-43516-7- Plants and Microclimate; A Quantitative Approach to Environmental Plant Physiology. Author: Jones, H.G.. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-511-84572-7 Plant Physiological Ecology; Authors: Lambers, H. , Oliveira, R.S., Springer: ISBN: 978-3030296384
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
1. Personal & Intellectual autonomy
By writing and preparing weekly reports students will grow into more independent scientist. They will know how to design and analyse experiments in plant physiology independently. Students will also follow the rules of good scientific practice and critically evaluate evidence-based solutions to defined issues using primary data.
2. Research and Knowledge
By following the lectures and the connected tutorials, students will have the necessary knowledge of concepts and methods for logical reasoning but also to think critically and to make conclusions and decisions based on data.
3. Communication
Writing and presentation skills will the trained through the written lab reports. Calculation of key parameters in plant ecology will be trained. Students will learn how to precisely formulate their research findings.
4. Personal Effectiveness
The ability to organise and summarise thoughts and material in a flexible and accessible way is a core feature required for personal effectiveness. Planning, time management and reflection are central to this. By providing students with weekly submissions for the practical lab reports, this course encourages students to develop effectiveness throughout.
5. Technical and Practical Skills
For our students¿ career development, it is important that students not only understand the conceptual basis of how experiments are designed and carried out but also have the underpinning practical skills required for employability. In this course, students will carry out experimental bench-work, and make accurate and informed observations on living and preserved plant material, recording the results in coherent notes. The lab skills that the students can develop from these practical sessions, in critical observation, investigation and interpretation, careful recording, quantification and analysis should serve well in any future employment.
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| Keywords | plants,trees,growth,anatomy,drought stress,biomass allocation,climate change,plant function |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Claudia Colesie
Tel: (0131 6)50 5434
Email: |
Course secretary | Mrs Nicola Clark
Tel: (0131 6)50 4842
Email: |
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