Undergraduate - UnitBIO2181 - Evolution of plant diversity

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2014 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

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6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered, or view unit timetables.

Level	Undergraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Science
Organisational Unit	School of Biological Sciences
Offered	Clayton First semester 2014 (Day)
Coordinator(s)	Associate Professor Martin Burd

Synopsis

This unit surveys diverse plant groups and related organisms, including fungi, algae, bryophytes, ferns, gymnosperms and angiosperms. A strong emphasis is placed on angiosperms, the major group of plants in the Australian flora. We discuss the major characteristics of each group, including their reproductive biology, and use key features for plant identification in practical classes. As we move through this diverse range of plants we discuss their evolutionary relationships and the adaptive significance of their key features.

Outcomes

On completion of this unit students will be able to:

Describe the diversity of plants;

Explain the evolutionary relationships between plant taxa;

Demonstrate a basic knowledge of the Australian flora;

Identify plants using practical techniques.

Assessment

Theory examination (2 hours): 40%
Practical exam (2 hours): 15%
Continuous assessment (mini quizzes): 10%
Practical assignments: 20%
Plant project: 15%

Chief examiner(s)

Associate Professor Martin Burd

Workload requirements

Two 1-hour lectures and one 3-hour practical per week (or equivalent)

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Ecology and conservation biology
Marine and freshwater biology
Plant sciences

Prerequisites

BIO1011 and either BIO1022 or BIO1042, or permission