This course takes an evolutionary genomic approach to the functional diversity of plants and fungi. It starts with practical skills in plant identification, culminating in a three-day trip to develop skills in the field.  Cutting edge techniques will be used to explore structure and function of plants through the many levels of diversity: ecophysiological bases of adaptive differentiation along environmental gradients, geographic patterns among populations, and the critical step of speciation within genera, and within and among families.

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

1. Collect, preserve and identify herbarium specimens (LO1)

2. Combine  classical plant taxonomy with modern molecular phylogeny (LO2)

3. Integrate concepts of plant evolution and speciation into an understanding of how organisms are classified in a molecular  phylogenetic framework (LO3)

4. Understand how molecular phylogenies can  inform studies of evolution of plant form and function (LO4)

5. Understand how functional diversity underpins adaptive differentiation of plant structure along environmental gradients (LO5)

6. Understand  how properties of biomes emerge from interactions between genotype, phenotype and environment (LO6)

UG Assessment will be based on:

• Plant collection and descriptions project (15%; LO 1, 2)

• Four practical reports at 10% each (40%; LO 5, 6)

• Mid-term and final theory exams (45%; LO 3, 4, 5, 6)

PG Assessment will be based on:

• Plant collection and descriptions project (15%; LO 1, 2)

• Four practical reports at 5% each (20%; LO 5,6)

• Mid-term and final theory exams (45%; LO 3, 4, 5,6)

• Literature research project and essay (20%; LO 3,4,5,6)

Two lectures plus one practical of three hours per week, and a field trip to Jervis Bay field station over one weekend in August. Non-contact time: plant collection approx 30 hrs; practical reports 2 hrs each.

Completion of BIOL1009 and BIOL2121

Field Trip: As an indication, in previous years the cost to students for this field trip was about $120.