Undergraduate Course: Evolution and Ecology of Plants 3 (BILG09011)
Course Outline
| School | School of Biological Sciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 9 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | The course covers aspects of the acclimation and adaptation of land plants to diverse environmental stresses, both biotic and physical; competition and niche capture by plants; the origin, evolution and biodiversity of land plants; their reproductive and breeding mechanisms; and their anatomy. The course will introduce a comparison of morphological, physiological and molecular approaches to study the ecology and evolution of plants. Plant-environment interactions also feature in the context of the colonisation of the land by early plants. We hope that the course will make clear the close linkage between the evolution and ecology of plants - past and present, wild or cultivated. |
| Course description |
The radiation of land plants over the last 475 million years transformed Earth to the green planet we know today. Land plants have not simply survived during this time but have instead thrived, leading to a plethora of botanical form spanning minute mosses, creeping lycophytes and ferns, towering gymnosperms and flamboyant flowering plants.
The aim for the course is to provide an overview of this remarkable radiation. This will be done by focussing in on some of the key anatomical, physiological and genetic changes that have underpinned the diversity of land plants. We will also consider how some of these traits and innovations enable plants to acclimate and adapt to different environments.
Telling this story requires an interdisciplinary approach spanning the investigation of fossil plants, living plants and genetic networks. At the beginning of the course, we will introduce some tools and processes that can help us frame the evolution and ecology of organisms, plant included. Fossil plants will be examined in the collections of the National Museum of Scotland. The diversity of living plant species will be explored at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Plant anatomy and genetic networks will be covered in lectures and practicals.
The course will therefore provide a broad overview of plant evolution through time, set out how lessons from the past can reveal information about the future and highlight some of the remaining outstanding questions in the study of plant evolution. The course will also make clear the link between the evolution and ecology of plants (past and present).
Recommended second year courses for EEP3 include: Biology 2B: Genetics and Evolution, Biology 2C: Systems and Regulation and The Green Planet 2. The course counts directly towards Honours degrees in Biological Sciences (Plant Science) and is one of a selection of courses recommended for Biological Sciences (Ecology) and Biological Sciences (Evolutionary Biology). It is also useful background for students of other programmes.
This course book contains answers to some of the questions you may have about course content, timetabling and assessment. Additional information will be posted on LEARN.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
It is RECOMMENDED that students have passed
The Green Planet 2 (BILG08016) AND
Biology 2B: Genetics and Evolution (BILG08025) AND
Biology 2C: Systems and Regulation (BILG08026)
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | Biological Sciences students are automatically eligible to take this course by having completed the compulsory Year 2 courses [Biology 2A (BILG08024), Biology 2B (BILG08025) and Biology 2C (BILG08026)].
Students from other Schools are advised to enquire with the Course Organiser if you are not sure whether this course is suitable for you. |
| Additional Costs | Students should provide a notebook and marker pen.
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Equivalent of the courses listed above |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2024/25, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 15,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 25.5,
Fieldwork Hours 4,
External Visit Hours 7,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 1,
Summative Assessment Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
141 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
50 %,
Coursework
50 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Tribes or Traits Assessment (50%)
This is made of two elements. An Individual Paper Commentary (10%) and a Group Report (40%)
Exam 50%
This has two sections. MCQ Section (20%) and an SAQ Section (30%). |
| Feedback |
We will provide written feedback on all assessed work. Please feel free to discuss this feedback further with the relevant members of the teaching team.
We also offer formative feedback on the practicals, to help you towards your learning outcomes. This feedback can take several forms. You can discuss your work with members of the teaching team, including your demonstrators, during the relevant practical sessions. You can hand in written work that will not be assessed and get written feedback. Your colleagues can also be a valuable source of feedback. Remember that the teaching team is there to help you, but it is up to you to ask for feedback. |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
|
| Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May) | Evolution and Ecology of Plants 3 Exam | 2:120 | | | Resit Exam Diet (August) | | 2:00 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Understand and give examples of how individual plants acclimate, and how plant populations adapt, to environmental stresses.
- Possess a modern overview of how the first plants colonised the land, of how we classify and work out the evolutionary relationships of present-day plants, and how plant structures and functions can be considered adaptions to life on land.
- 3. Describe evolutionary relationships with special reference to agriculturally and ecologically important families of flowering plants.
- Conduct experimental bench-work and make accurate and informed observations on living and preserved plant material, recording the results in coherent notes.
- Interpret experimental and observational data to reach logical conclusions about plant evolution and ecology.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
The University has identified skills and abilities that we would like students to develop throughout their degree programme to strengthen attitudes towards lifelong learning and personal development, in addition to future employability. Some graduate attributes we hope to specifically develop during this course are indicated below.
Enquiry and Lifelong Learning: in this course you will develop a knowledge of acclimation and adaptation in plants, possess a modern overview of how the first plants colonised the land and understand evolutionary relationships of present-day plants.
Research and Enquiry: in this course you will carry out experimental work, making accurate observations on living and preserved plant material and recording results in coherent notes. The Tribes or Traits assessment will further improve your enquiry skills: you will search the literature and condense your views in a written form.
Personal and Intellectual Autonomy: in this course we encourage you to explore books, research papers and electronic materials. Reading lists are provided in this course guide and during lectures. By preparing for the Tribes or Traits assessment, you will learn to synthesise your views, develop reasoned arguments and refine your scientific judgement.
Personal Effectiveness: to productively engage with the learning activities of the course, you will need to manage your time well. We have provided you with a detailed timetable in this course guide. We have also highlighted the deadline for the Tribes or Traits assessment.
Communication: in the practical classes of this course you will be working within small teams, requiring collaboration with your peers. The Tribes or Traits assessment involves group work, so you develop skills to interact constructively and engage effectively with others. |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
Most weeks:
Lectures are 1330 - 1430 hrs
Practicals are 1430 - 1700 hrs
(2 days per week). |
| Keywords | EEP3,evolution,ecophysiology,plant science,biodiversity |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Andrea Paterlini
Tel:
Email: apaterli@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Dr Edward Dewhirst
Tel: (0131 6)50 8649
Email: edewhirs@ed.ac.uk |
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