BIOL3125 Plants and Global Climate Change

Later Year Course

Offered By

Biology Teaching and Learning Centre

Academic Career

Undergraduate

Course Subject

Biology

Offered in

Second Semester, 2011 and Second Semester, 2012

Unit Value

6 units

Course Description

How will global climate change the distribution and performance of plants in nature and in cultivation? This course will provide you with a solid background in plant function in relation to global climate change. The course is structured around topic modules selected to expose students to current research areas in the field. Each module is taught by an expert lecturer and specific topics will vary between years. Students will learn how to find, critique and synthesize papers in the primary literature and will develop written and oral communication skills with particular emphasis on communicating science in broadly accessible terms. The course will have a broad content ranging from topics as fundamental as the properties of the photosynthetic CO₂ fixing enzyme Rubisco, the response of photosynthesis and growth to CO₂, and the ecological responses of plants to rising CO₂ , temperature and changing water relations.

Honours Pathway Option:

Entry to Honours Pathway Option will be subject to the approval of the course convener, and requires a mark of at least 80 in a first year Biol course, and the agreement of the course coordinator. Students undertaking this option will engage in a small inquiry-learning project based in one of the course lecturer’s labs. The practical experience provides an opportunity to learn and apply techniques and to extend the theory taught in the course. Students will work with the lecturer to develop the mini-project and will either write a brief report or give a 15 minute presentation to the class on the project and results.

Learning Outcomes

On satisfying the requirements of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Understand and describe global climate change and the ways in which its effects may have impacts on plant biology.
2. Understand and describe processes of plant biology relevant to plant growth and performance and ecological outcomes.
3. Search and read primary research literature and be able to analyze and critique the research results in written and oral formats.
4. Communicate science issues and ideas in broadly accessible terms.

Indicative Assessment

Assessment will be based on:

student led discussion activities associated with the critical review of research papers coupled to the lecture modules (30%; LO 1-4)
literature review on a topic aligned with one of the lecture modules (30%; LO 1-4)
peer review of another student's literature review (10%; LO 1,2,4)
final exam based on critical assessment of research papers associated with lecture modules (30%; LO1-4)

Workload

Following a week of introductory material, this course will be divided into 6 modules each 2 weeks long and each having 3 lectures and 3 tutorial sessions.

Requisite Statement

Any Group C course with a BIOL prefix or ENVS2019

Science Group

Academic Contact

Professor Murray Badger

The information published on the Study at ANU 2011 website applies to the 2011 academic year only. All information provided on this website replaces the information contained in the Study at ANU 2010 website.