DOCSLIB.ORG

Plant Ecology BOT 431 – Fall 2013 Syllabus

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Plant Ecology BOT 431 – Fall 2013 Syllabus Plant Ecology BOT 431 – Fall 2013 Syllabus Lecture Instructor Dr. Lisa Krueger Office: Brehm Hall, Rm. 239 Office Phone: 731-881-3171 E-mail: [email protected] Office hours: My office hours will be 3-5pm on Monday and Wednesday and 1-3pm on Thursday, or by appointment. You may always contact me by e-mail. Required Text and Other Materials The text book for the course is: Gurevitch, J., S.M. Scheiner & G.A. Fox. 2006. The Ecology of Plants 2nd ed. Sinauer Associates, Inc. Any additional material required for the course will be posted on Blackboard (utm. blackboard.com). Course Format BOT 431 is a 3 credit hour course designed to introduce students to the relations of plants to their environment with emphasis on climate and biotic factors influencing their structure, growth, behavior, and distribution. The course consists of three one-hour lectures per week. Prereq: BIOL 130-140 Objectives Upon completion of this course, you should have a basic understanding of: • The different definitions and levels of ecological study • How plant physiology and morphology can affect plant species abundances and distributions. • Interactions among plants, between plants and other organisms, and between plants and their environment • The consequences of these interactions on community structure and development in plants • How plants contribute to ecosystem functions and processes • Characteristics used to classify vegetation from the local to global scale • How local, regional, and global climate affect the abundance and distribution of plants • The role of humans and plants in global change • How to critically analyze scientific papers Policies Attendance and class etiquette You are responsible for all lecture material, even if it is not in the text, so attendance to all lectures is strongly recommended. The lectures form the basis for examinations, and experience has shown that attendance in lecture correlates with grades earned in the course. Ignorance of an announcement made in class is not an acceptable excuse for failure to meet a course requirement. Tardiness will not be tolerated. The instructor reserves the right to dismiss students who arrive late to class. In addition, inappropriate talking during class is not acceptable and and will result in dismissal from class Electronic devices The use of cell phones/blackberries during class time is prohibited. This includes both texting and talking on the phone. Please turn off all cell phones before coming to class. Laptops may be used in class for note-taking only (i.e. no checking e-mail, internet surfing, Facebook etc.). No electronic devices will be allowed during exams with the possible exception of hand-held calculators. Students will be asked to leave the class who fail to comply with this policy. Make-up exams Students should make every effort to attend all exams. Make-up exams will only be given if a student has a valid and verifiable reason for missing the exam (ex. serious illness, death in immediate family). What constitutes a valid excuse is left to the discretion of the professor. If possible, students should notify me before the date of the scheduled exam. If this is not possible, written (not by e- mail) or verbal verification will be required from an outside source (physician, parent/guardian) with knowledge of the situation within 2 class periods of the absence to be deemed valid. Written notices should have the appropriate contact information listed for later verification. Make-up exams must be taken within 48 hours of the missed exam. If the student has an excused absence but is unable to take a make-up exam before this time, the percentage received on the final examination by that student will be recorded for the missed exam (applicable for one exam only). If an exam is missed for an un-excused reason, a grade of 0 will be recorded and used in the calculation of the final grade. Make-ups may differ in content and format from exams given during the scheduled class period. Academic dishonesty If you have not done so yet, please read the section on Academic Dishonesty in the Student Handbook. Enrollment at UTM assumes binding agreement with the university’s policy of academic honesty. All exams and written assignments completed in class or outside of class are to be completed individually unless you are informed otherwise. Academic dishonesty in any form (e.g. cheating or plagiarism) will not be tolerated and will result in an F for the course and notification to the appropriate authority. Special accommodations Students eligible and requesting academic accommodation are required to contact the Disability Student Services in the Student Success Center to obtain a letter of accommodation. These arrangements should be made during the first two weeks of the semester. Reading Assignments The text is a fundamental part of this course. Reading assignments for each lecture period are listed within the schedule. Students are expected to read the assigned material before the topics are covered in class. Lectures and reading assignments will overlap to some extent, but some information may be present in the reading that is not addressed in lecture and vice versa. Students are responsible for both lecture and reading material on the exams. Course Grade Your grade will be based on your cumulative performance on the following: Total points 3 Lecture Exams (100 pts each) 300 3 Homework assignments (25 pts each) 75 Journal Article Critique 50 Final Exam (cumulative) 200 Total 625 Letter grades will be assigned according to the percentage of total points earned (i.e. Percentage = (points earned/600)*100) 90-100% = A 80-89.9% = B 70-79.9% = C 60-69.9% = D Below 60% = F Exams Lecture exams will be given during the lecture period on the dates noted in the schedule (unless your instructor informs you otherwise). Exams will cover materials discussed in class along with all assigned reading material. The final exam will be cumulative. No exam grades will be dropped. Journal Article Critique Each student will select an article describing an experiment on a topic relating to plant ecology from a peer-reviewed scientific journal. Review articles or meta-analyses are not acceptable article selections. After reading the article each student will write a 2-page critique paper based on his/her article. The critique will include the following: (1) a summary of the experiment and 2) an evaluation of the study and the article. Further instructions concerning this assignment will be provided later in the semester. Homework Assignments Several homework assignments will be given during the semester. Some will require you to use quantitative skills to answer questions relating to plant ecology while others require you to delve deeper into some topics discussed in class. Further instructions concerning these assignments will be provided later in the semester. All assignments are due at the start of class on the due date listed in the schedule (unless the instructor states otherwise). An assignment will decrease by a letter grade for each day it is late. Tentative Schedule (Subject to change) Reading Date Topic Assignment M, Aug. 26 Introduction to Plant Ecology Ch. 1 W, Aug. 28 Introduction to Plant Ecology Ch. 1 F, Aug. 30 Photosynthesis Ch. 2 M, Sept. 2 No Class W, Sept. 4 Photosynthesis Ch. 2 F, Sept. 6 Water Relations & Energy Balance Ch. 3 M, Sept. 9 Water Relations & Energy Balance Ch. 3 W, Sept. 11 Soil, Nutrients & Belowground Interactions Ch. 4 F, Sept. 13 Growth & Reproduction Ch. 7 M, Sept. 16 Growth & Reproduction Ch. 7 W, Sept. 18 Plant Life Histories Ch. 8 F, Sept. 20 Plant Life Histories Ch. 8 M, Sept. 23 Community Properties Ch. 9 W, Sept. 25 EXAM #1 F, Sept. 27 Community Properties Ch. 9 M, Sept. 30 Competition and Other Interactions Ch. 10 W, Oct. 2 Competition and Other Interactions Ch. 10 F, Oct. 4 Herbivory Ch. 11 M, Oct. 7 Herbivory Ch. 11 W, Oct. 9 Plant Pathogen Interactions Ch. 11 F, Oct. 11 Disturbance Ch. 12 M, Oct. 14 No Class W, Oct. 16 Disturbance Ch. 12 F, Oct. 18 Succession Ch. 12 M, Oct. 21 Abundance, Diversity & Rarity Ch. 13 W, Oct. 23 Invasive Species Ch. 13 F, Oct. 25 Ecosystem Processes Ch. 14 M, Oct. 28 EXAM #2 W, Oct. 30 Ecosystem Processes Ch. 14 F, Nov. 1 Ecosystem Processes Ch. 14 M, Nov. 4 Communities in Landscapes Ch. 15 W, Nov. 6 Communities in Landscapes – CRITIQUE DUE Ch. 15 F, Nov. 8 Landscape Ecology Ch. 16 M, Nov. 11 Landscape Ecology Ch. 16 W, Nov. 13 Climate and Physiognomy Ch. 17 F, Nov. 15 Climate and Physiognomy Ch. 17 M, Nov. 18 Climate and Physiognomy Ch. 17 W, Nov. 20 Biomes Ch. 18 F, Nov. 22 Biomes Ch. 18 M, Nov. 25 EXAM #3 W, Nov. 27 No Class F, Nov. 29 No Class M, Dec. 2 Global Change Ch. 21 W, Dec. 4 Global Change Ch. 21 F, Dec. 6 Catch-up Day / Review for Final FINAL EXAM: Fri., Dec 13, 7:45-9:45am .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Evolutionary Ecology of Pollination and Reproduction of Tropical Plants
    TROPICAL BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT - Vol. V - Evolutionary Ecology af Pollination and Reproduction of Tropical Plants - M. Quesada, F. Rosas, Y. Herrerias-Diego, R. Aguliar, J.A. Lobo and G. Sanchez-Montoya EVOLUTIONARY ECOLOGY OF POLLINATION AND REPRODUCTION OF TROPICAL PLANTS M. Quesada and F. Rosas Centro de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México. Y. Herrerias-Diego Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Michoacán, México. R. Aguilar IMBIV - UNC - CONICET, C.C. 495,(5000) Córdoba, Argentina J.A. Lobo Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica G. Sanchez-Montoya Centro de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México. Keywords: Pollination, tropical plants, diversity, mating systems, gender, conservation. Contents 1. Introduction 1.1. The Life Cycle of Angiosperms 1.2. Overview of Angiosperm Diversity 2. Degree of specificity of pollination system 3. Diversity of pollination systems 3.1. Beetle Pollination (Cantharophily) 3.2. Lepidoptera 3.2.1. Butterfly Pollination (Psychophily) 3.2.2. Moth Pollination (Phalaenophily) 3.3. Hymenoptera 3.3.1. Bee PollinationUNESCO (Melittophily) – EOLSS 3.3.2. Wasps 3.4. Fly Pollination (Myophily and Sapromyophily) 3.5. Bird Pollination (Ornitophily) 3.6. Bat PollinationSAMPLE (Chiropterophily) CHAPTERS 3.7. Pollination by No-Flying Mammals 3.8. Wind Pollination (Anemophily) 3.9. Water Pollination (Hydrophily) 4. Reproductive systems of angiosperms 4.1. Strategies that Reduce Selfing and/or Promote Cross-Pollination. 4.2. Self Incompatibility Systems 4.2.1. Incidence of Self Incompatibility in Tropical Forest 4.3. The Evolution of Separated Sexes from Hermaphroditism 4.3.1. From Distyly to Dioecy ©Encyclopedia Of. Life Support Systems (EOLSS) TROPICAL BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT - Vol.
    [Show full text]
  • Selection on Floral Morphology and Environmental Determinants of Fecundity in a Hawk Moth-Pollinated Violet'
    Ecoiog~calMonographs, 63(3), 1993. pp. 25 1-275 LC 1993 by the Ecological Society of America SELECTION ON FLORAL MORPHOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINANTS OF FECUNDITY IN A HAWK MOTH-POLLINATED VIOLET' CARLOSM. HERRERA Estacidn Bioldgica de Dofiana, Apartado 1056, E-41080 SeviNa, Spain Abstract. This paper presents the results of a 5-yr field study on the determinants of individual variation in maternal fecundity (seed production) in the narrowly endemic violet Viola cazorlensis (Violaceae), at a southeastern Spanish locality. Flowers of this species are characterized by a very long, thin spur and broad morphological variability, and are pol- linated by a single species of day-flying hawk moth (Macroglossum stellatarum; Lepidop- tera, Sphingidae). The primary aim of this investigation was to answer the question, What are the relative importances, as explanations of individual differences in fecundity, of variability in floral traits and of other fecundity determinants that are of an extrinsic nature, such as microhabitat type and interactions with herbivores? The floral morphology of individual V. cazorlensis plants was characterized by means of both "conventional," linear measurements of the size of flower parts (petals, spur, peduncle), and shape analysis of corolla outline (using thin-plate splines relative warps analysis). Spatial (among substrate types) and temporal (among years) patterns of variation in flower, fruit, and seed production by V. cazorlensis plants are described, with particular emphasis on the comparative effects of floral morphology, herbivory (by mammalian ungulates and two species of lepidopteran larvae), and substrate type (rock cliffs, bare rocks at ground level, and sandy soils), on cumulative seed production at the individual plant level.
    [Show full text]
  • Ecology: Definition, Scope and Relationship with Other Sciences
    Ecology: Definition, Scope and Relationship with other sciences By Shalinder Kaur Department of Botany P.G.G.C.G. – 11 Chandigarh The word "ecology" ("oekologie") (coined by German scientist Ernst Haeckel,1866) was derived from the Greek ―oikos” meaning "household" and logos meaning "science:" the "study of the household of nature." Ecology is not synonymous with environment, environmentalism, or environmental science. Ecology is closely related to physiology, evolutionary biology, genetics and ethology. An understanding of how biodiversity affects ecological function is an important focus area in ecological studies. Ecology: branch of science that deals with interaction between living organisms with each other and their surroundings. Ecological systems are studied at several different levels from individuals and populations to ecosystems and biosphere level. Ecology is a multi-disciplinary science, drawing on many other branches of science. Applied ecology is the practice of employing ecological principles and understanding to solve real world problems. E.g. calculating fish population, measuring environmental impact from construction or logging, building a case for the conservation of a species, and determining the most effective way to protect a species. In a broader sense, ecology can also mean: Natural environment: using the principles and methods of ecology. Human Ecology: looks at humans and their interactions with the natural environment. Scope of Ecology Ecology can be studied at several levels, from proteins and nucleic acids (in biochemistry and molecular biology), cells (in cellular biology), organisms (in botany, zoology, and other similar disciplines), and finally at the level of populations, communities, and ecosystems — which are the subjects of ecology. Because of its focus on the broadest level of life and on the interrelations between living beings and their environment, ecology draws heavily on other branches of science, such as geology and geography, meteorology, pedology, chemistry, and physics.
    [Show full text]
  • Urban Plant Ecophysiology
    4 Urban Plant Ecophysiology Nancy Falxa Sonti* USDA Forest Service, Baltimore, Maryland Introduction understanding and managing the fluxes of heat, water, gases and nutrients that underlie Plants have long been cultivated to improve urban ecosystem science and that help make quality of life in dense human settlements, cities both liveable and sustainable (Alberti, mitigating the environmental stresses of ur- 2005). The past few decades have seen a rise ban living. Urban landscape elements include in research on plant community ecology, but gardens, trees and lawns designed to provide ecophysiological studies have lagged behind, aesthetic and functional benefits to local resi- possibly due to methodological challenges, or dents, as well as urban natural areas that re- due to the recent popularity of other topics in flect the native biome vegetation. Different plant biology (Beyschlag and Ryel, 2007). types of informal green space are typically A systematic approach to urban plant found in interstitial urban areas wherever ecophysiology that is tied to decision making plants find space, light, water and nutrients to can support efforts to improve both liveabil- grow (Rupprecht and Byrne, 2014). A grow- ity and sustainability of cities via plant physi- ing body of literature evaluates the health and ological function. Plants are the foundation of well- being benefits of these diverse types of most nature- based solutions to environmental, intentional and unintentional urban nature, social and economic challenges, and physi- and advocates for their inclusion in sustain- ological function is the engine that drives the able urban design (Konijnendijk et al., 2013; provision of associated ecosystem services. Kowarik, 2018; Threlfall and Kendal, 2018).
    [Show full text]
  • BIO 1500: Plant Physiological Ecology (Previously Known As Plant Ecology)
    BIO 1500: Plant Physiological Ecology (previously known as Plant Ecology) Lectures: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 – 10:20am (H hour), Smith-Buonanno Hall rm 207 Laboratory: Labs will be held on Thursdays in the Environmental Science Center (greenhouses). One or two lab sections will be available (TBD) Instructor: Prof. Erika Edwards Office: 303 Walter Hall Phone: 863-2081 Email: [email protected] Office hours: Wednesday, 1-3 pm Teaching assistant: Matt Ogburn, [email protected], office hours TBD Course Overview This is an advanced botany course, preferably for students that have taken either BIO43 or BIO44 in addition to BIO20; otherwise permission must be obtained from the instructor. A keen interest in plants is a must. Aims and objectives: The primary aim of BIO 1500 is to examine the role of the environment in shaping the anatomical, physiological, and ecological diversity of vascular plants. Lectures will provide an overview of plant-environment interactions, focusing on anatomical and physiological adaptations of leaves, stems, and roots to different habitats. A comparative, phylogenetic approach will be emphasized. This is a hybrid lecture/seminar course, where classes will consist of both chalkboard lectures by the professor as well as discussions of articles from the primary literature. In addition, BIO 1500 is designed to be a hands-on course, and lectures are viewed mostly as supplements to the semester-long greenhouse project that will provide students with first-hand experience in measuring and interpreting plant functional traits. Students will work on a set of group projects that are designed to test long-standing assumptions about the evolution and adaptive nature of certain plant traits.
    [Show full text]
  • Bio 345 Field Botany Fall 2013 Professor Mark Davis Macalester College (Office: Rice 104; 696-6102) Office Hours - M: 1:30-3:00 P.M
    Bio 345 Field Botany Fall 2013 Professor Mark Davis Macalester College (Office: Rice 104; 696-6102) Office Hours - M: 1:30-3:00 p.m. Wed: 1:30-3:00 p.m. GENERAL INFORMATION Biology 345-01 (02): (Field Botany) is a course in plant taxonomy, plant geography, and plant ecology. Students will learn the principles of plant classification and, through first hand experience, the techniques of plant identification, collection, and preservation. Students also will be introduced to the fields of plant geography and plant ecology. Particular attention will be given to the taxonomy, geography, and ecology of plants growing in the North Central United States. Weekly field trips to nearby habitats will enable students to become familiar with many local species. This is a course for anyone who enjoys plants and wants to learn to identify them and learn more about them, as well as for students with a scientific interest in plant taxonomy and ecology. Note: this syllabus and other course materials can also be found on Moodle. READINGS: Readings from Barbour and Billings (2000), North American Terrestrial Vegetation, Cambridge U Press (in Bio Student Lounge); Judd et al. (2008), Plant Systematics: A Phylogenetic Approach, Sinauer Associates (in Bio Student Lounge); & readings to be assigned. LECTURES: MWF 10:50 - 11:50 a.m. in OR284. Please come to class on time!!!! LABORATORY/FIELD TRIPS/DISCUSSIONS: Thurs: 8:00 - 11:10 a.m. During September, and October we will usually take field trips during the weekly laboratory time. These will be local botanizing trips and will provide students with the opportunity to develop and practice their identification skills in the field.
    [Show full text]
  • Tree Life History Strategies: the Role of Defenses
    For personal use only. Can. J. For. Res. Downloaded from www.nrcresearchpress.com by Virginia Tech Univ Lib on 06/06/17 For personal use only. Can. J. For. Res. Downloaded from www.nrcresearchpress.com by Virginia Tech Univ Lib on 06/06/17 For personal use only. Can. J. For. Res. Downloaded from www.nrcresearchpress.com by Virginia Tech Univ Lib on 06/06/17 For personal use only. Can. J. For. Res. Downloaded from www.nrcresearchpress.com by Virginia Tech Univ Lib on 06/06/17 For personal use only. Can. J. For. Res. Downloaded from www.nrcresearchpress.com by Virginia Tech Univ Lib on 06/06/17 For personal use only. Can. J. For. Res. Downloaded from www.nrcresearchpress.com by Virginia Tech Univ Lib on 06/06/17 For personal use only. Can. J. For. Res. Downloaded from www.nrcresearchpress.com by Virginia Tech Univ Lib on 06/06/17 For personal use only. Can. J. For. Res. Downloaded from www.nrcresearchpress.com by Virginia Tech Univ Lib on 06/06/17 For personal use only. Can. J. For. Res. Downloaded from www.nrcresearchpress.com by Virginia Tech Univ Lib on 06/06/17 For personal use only. Can. J. For. Res. Downloaded from www.nrcresearchpress.com by Virginia Tech Univ Lib on 06/06/17 For personal use only. Can. J. For. Res. Downloaded from www.nrcresearchpress.com by Virginia Tech Univ Lib on 06/06/17 For personal use only. Can. J. For. Res. Downloaded from www.nrcresearchpress.com by Virginia Tech Univ Lib on 06/06/17 For personal use only.
    [Show full text]
  • PLANT ECOLOGY 11:216:332 Fall 2018
    PLANT ECOLOGY 11:216:332 Fall 2018 PLANT ECOLOGY SYLLABUS Meeting Times Lecture: 9:15–10:35am Monday & Thursday, Bartlett Hall Rm 123 Labs: 1:00–5:00 pm, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, meet in front of the ENR building unless otherwise noted in the lab schedule below. Professor: Dr. Myla F.J. Aronson Email: [email protected] Office: 105 Blake Hall, 93 Lipman Drive, Cook Campus Office hours: Monday 11:00am-1:00pm Lab/Field Instructors: Mike Allen, [email protected]. Office hours: Wednesdays 10:00am-12:00pm. Oliver Stringham, [email protected]. Office hours: Tuesdays 10:00am-12:00pm. COURSE DESCRIPTION Ecology is the study of interrelationships between organisms and their biotic and abiotic environments. As a basic science, ecology informs us about the processes governing the patterns we observe in nature. From an applied perspective, it is critical that we understand ecology as it provides insights and solutions to many of the environmental issues we are confronted with in our daily lives. In this course we will focus specifically on the ecology of plants. Plant ecology is the study of the distribution and abundance of plants and their interactions with the abiotic environment and other organisms. In this course, we will examine plant life histories, populations, communities, and plant-animal interactions (pollination, dispersal, herbivory). Labs includes greenhouse, field experiments, and field trips with an exploration of plant biodiversity of the campus and region. Terrestrial systems are emphasized. COURSE LEARNING GOALS This course is an introduction to plant ecology. Through the lectures, readings, assignments, field trips, and computer labs you will gain a broader understanding of the key concepts in plant ecology and get experience in applying these concepts by collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data from several local plant communities.
    [Show full text]
  • Plant Ecology and Biostatistics
    BSCBO- 203 B.Sc. II YEAR Plant Ecology and Biostatistics DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY SCHOOL OF SCIENCES UTTARAKHAND OPEN UNIVERSITY PLANT ECOLOGY AND BIOSTATISTICS BSCBO-203 BSCBO-203 PLANT ECOLOGY AND BIOSTATISTICS SCHOOL OF SCIENCES DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY UTTARAKHAND OPEN UNIVERSITY Phone No. 05946-261122, 261123 Toll free No. 18001804025 Fax No. 05946-264232, E. mail [email protected] htpp://uou.ac.in UTTARAKHAND OPEN UNIVERSITY Page 1 PLANT ECOLOGY AND BIOSTATISTICS BSCBO-203 Expert Committee Prof. J. C. Ghildiyal Prof. G.S. Rajwar Retired Principal Principal Government PG College Government PG College Karnprayag Augustmuni Prof. Lalit Tewari Dr. Hemant Kandpal Department of Botany School of Health Science DSB Campus, Uttarakhand Open University Kumaun University, Nainital Haldwani Dr. Pooja Juyal Department of Botany School of Sciences Uttarakhand Open University, Haldwani Board of Studies Late Prof. S. C. Tewari Prof. Uma Palni Department of Botany Department of Botany HNB Garhwal University, Retired, DSB Campus, Srinagar Kumoun University, Nainital Dr. R.S. Rawal Dr. H.C. Joshi Scientist, GB Pant National Institute of Department of Environmental Science Himalayan Environment & Sustainable School of Sciences Development, Almora Uttarakhand Open University, Haldwani Dr. Pooja Juyal Department of Botany School of Sciences Uttarakhand Open University, Haldwani Programme Coordinator Dr. Pooja Juyal Department of Botany School of Sciences Uttarakhand Open University, Haldwani UTTARAKHAND OPEN UNIVERSITY Page 2 PLANT ECOLOGY AND BIOSTATISTICS BSCBO-203 Unit Written By: Unit No. 1-Dr. Pooja Juyal 1, 4 & 5 Department of Botany School of Sciences Uttarakhand Open University Haldwani, Nainital 2-Dr. Harsh Bodh Paliwal 2 & 3 Asst Prof. (Senior Grade) School of Forestry & Environment SHIATS Deemed University, Naini, Allahabad 3-Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • I BSC II SEMESTER CBCS BOTANY PAPER-II Plant Ecology, Phytogeography, Plant Pathology
    I BSC II SEMESTER CBCS BOTANY PAPER-II Plant ecology, Phytogeography, Plant Pathology SREE SIDDAGANGA COLLEGE OF ARTS, SCIENCE and COMMERCE B.H. ROAD, TUMKUR (AFFILIATED TO TUMKUR UNIVERSITY) BOTANY PAPER-II STUDY MATERIAL K.S.Gitanjali Page 1 I BSC II SEMESTER CBCS BOTANY PAPER-II Plant ecology, Phytogeography, Plant Pathology UNIT-1 (2 Hr) Introduction and Scope of Ecology The branch of Biology that deals with the study of interrelationships and interdependence between biotic and Abiotic factors in an environment is called “Ecology or “Environmental biology”. In 1886 German Zoologist Ernst Haekal coined the term ‘Ecology’. It is derived from Greek words where ‘Oikos ‘means ‘home’. And ‘logos’ means ‘to study’. Odum Defines Ecology as “The study of structure and function of nature”. The term ‘Environment is derived from French word where ‘Environer’ means ‘to encircle ‘or ‘to surround’. “The study of interactions of man with the living and non living components of environment and interdisciplinary field study is referred as “Environmental studies”. SCOPE OF ECOLOGY 1. Study of Ecology provides knowledge for proper maintenance of natural resources. 2. It helps to understand the harmful effects of pollution, need for its control. 3. It provides knowledge about population, their interactions with environment. And necessity of maintenance of delicate balance between living and none living components of nature. 4. It provides Knowledge on Biodiversity, their types, reasons of depletion, their importance and methods of conservation. 5. It helps to take suitable steps to prevent the extinction of species and protect endangered (Species towards extinction) and endemic (Species restricted to a particular geographical region) species.
    [Show full text]
  • Seed Dispersal Distances: a Typology Based on Dispersal Modes and Plant Traits
    Bot. Helv. 117 (2007): 109 – 124 0253-1453/07/020109-16 DOI 10.1007/s00035-007-0797-8 Birkhäuser Verlag, Basel, 2007 Botanica Helvetica Seed dispersal distances: a typology based on dispersal modes and plant traits Pascal Vittoz1 and Robin Engler2 1 Faculty of Geosciences and Environment, University of Lausanne, Bâtiment Biophore, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; e-mail: [email protected] (corresponding author) 2 Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Bâtiment Biophore, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; e-mail: [email protected] Manuscript accepted 14 May 2007 Abstract Vittoz P. and Engler R. 2007. Seed dispersal distances: a typology based on dispersal modes and plant traits. Bot. Helv. 117: 109 – 124. The ability of plants to disperse seeds may be critical for their survival under the current constraints of landscape fragmentation and climate change. Seed dispersal distance would therefore be an important variable to include in species distribution models. Unfortunately, data on dispersal distances are scarce, and seed dispersal models only exist for some species with particular dispersal modes. To overcome this lack of knowledge, we propose a simple approach to estimate seed dispersal distances for a whole regional flora. We reviewed literature about seed dispersal in temperate regions and compiled data for dispersal distances together with information about the dispersal mode and plant traits. Based on this information, we identified seven “dispersal types” with similar dispersal distances. For each type, upper limits for the distance within which 50% and 99% of a species seeds will disperse were estimated with the 80th percentile of the available values.
    [Show full text]
  • A Historical Perspective on Problems in Botany Teaching
    A Historical Perspective on Problems in Botany Teaching David R. Hershey B OZNIAK (1994) and Uno (1994) have recently en Age of Botany Teaching" dozens of botany text- called attention to some of the many problems books were published by the leading botanical scien- facing botany teaching,but their analyses lacked tists of the day including Asa Gray, Francis Darwin, a historicalperspective. This article discusses how the CharlesBessey, JohnCoulter and LibertyHyde Bailey. many problems in botany teaching are interrelated, The last three were Presidents of the American Asso- and most have existed since at least the early 1900s.In ciation for the Advancement of Science. There was this article, botany is defined as the whole field of even a complaint that there were too many botany Downloaded from http://online.ucpress.edu/abt/article-pdf/58/6/340/47662/4450174.pdf by guest on 02 October 2021 plant biology encompassing any discipline with a textbooks (Beal 1907). Botany teaching articles ap- majorfocus on the plant kingdom, including horticul- peared in leading researchjournals like Scienceand the ture, agronomy, forestry, plant pathology, weed sci- BotanicalGazette, there were manuals on high school ence, plant physiology, plant morphology, plant ge- botany teaching (Ganong 1910,Lloyd 1907),there was netics, plant ecology, plant taxonomy, etc. Botany a botany science projectbook for students (Osterhout teaching at both the precollege and introductorycol- 1905), and numerous botany education articles ap- lege levels will be considered. peared in School Scienceand Mathematicsand other educationjournals. Botany was also a majorpart of the Botany Neglect in Biology Teaching nature study and school gardening movements (Big- elow 1911).
    [Show full text]