Postgraduate Course: Biodiversity of Cryptogams and Fungi (PGBI11047)
Course Outline
| School |
School of Biological Sciences |
College |
College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type |
Standard |
Availability |
Not available to visiting students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) |
SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Credits |
10 |
| Home subject area |
Postgraduate |
Other subject area |
None |
| Course website |
None |
|
|
| Course description |
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. |
Entry Requirements
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites |
It is RECOMMENDED that students also take
Biodiversity (ZLGY10017)
|
| Prohibited Combinations |
|
Other requirements |
None
|
| Additional Costs |
none |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Delivery period: 2010/11 Semester 2, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
|
WebCT enabled: No |
Quota: None |
| Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| External To University | Laboratory | | 1-11 | | | | | 14:00 - 17:00 |
| First Class |
First class information not currently available |
| Additional information |
8 hour(s) per week for 3 week(s). 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.
|
Assessment Information
| Practical examination (not centrally arranged) and centrally -arranged 2-h problem paper. |
Special Arrangements
| Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser |
Dr Chris Jeffree
Tel: (0131 6)50 5554
Email: C.Jeffree@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary |
Ms Ellen Glendinning
Tel: (0131 6)50 7366
Email: ellen.glendinning@ed.ac.uk |
|
copyright 2010 The University of Edinburgh -
1 September 2010 6:24 am
|
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