BT3010 - Biology of Plant Survival

Credit points:	03
Year:	2006
Student Contribution Band:	Band 2
Administered by:

On the planet earth, there is more biomass in plants than in all other groups of terrestrial organisms combined. Indeed, the energy and chemical composition of plants dictates the size and nature of populations of animals and micro-organisms. To survive, plants must reproduce, grow and disperse whilst coping with competition, environmental stress, pathogens and herbivores. This subject explores the strategies and mechanisms that allow plants to survive and proliferate in abiotic, biotic and anthropogenic environments. Survival will be examined in terms of life history strategies, population and reproductive ecology, maintaining performance within varying environments, and the character of plant defence mechanisms. Particular emphasis will be given to the role of plant-animal interactions that have assisting flowering plants to dominate current tropical, sub-tropical, temperate and sub-polar habitats.

Learning Outcomes

• to gain an understanding of strategies plants adopt to survive in a variety of environments from marine to rainforests to deserts;
• to apply the knowledge gained to evaluate plant species survival in modern ecological and evolutionary timeframes;
• to develop practical field based and laboratory skills in evaluating plant survival strategies.

Graduate Qualities

• The ability to think critically, to analyse and evaluate claims, evidence and arguments;
• The ability to define and to solve problems in at least one discipline area;
• The ability to speak and write logically, clearly and creatively.

Prerequisites:	BT1001 and any BT or BZ subject second year and above.
Inadmissible Subject Combinations:	BT3290 and BT5010

Availabilities
, , Study Period 1
Census Date 24-Mar-2006
Coordinator:	Empro Joseph Holtum
Lecturers:	Empro Joseph Holtum, pvrmw.
Contact hours:	26 hours 30 hours 2 days
Assessment:	(50%); (50%).

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.