Introductory Plant Ecology-E2
| Numbering Code | U-LAS14 20052 LE68 | Year/Term | 2022 ・ First semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Credits | 2 | Course Type | Lecture |
| Target Year | Mainly 1st & 2nd year students | Target Student | For science students |
| Language | English | Day/Period | Wed.3 |
| Instructor name | Garry John PILLER (Graduate School of Agriculture Associate Professor) | ||
| Outline and Purpose of the Course | Plant ecology underpins many scientific disciplines, including ecosystem rehabilitation, conservation and management biology, and research on climate change impacts. This course will introduce students to the principles of plant ecology. The focus will be on the factors that influence plant distribution and abundance: light, water, nutrients, growth patterns, plant and animal interactions, and disturbances. In addition, current ecological issues such as climate change and exotic species invasions will be examined. | ||
| Course Goals |
Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to: * Explain the fundamental processes that influence species’ distribution and abundance * Discuss interactions between plants and the environment, as well as with other organisms * Apply ecological principles to environmental issues * Access and critically analyze basic research pertaining to plant ecology |
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| Schedule and Contents |
Course Schedule 1. Introduction to Plant Ecology 2. Light 3. Water Relations 4. Soils & Nutrition 5. Evolutionary Processes 6. Population Structure 7. Growth & Reproduction 8. Community Patterns 9. Competition 10. Herbivory & Plant-Pathogen Interactions 11. Disturbance & Fire 12. Succession 13. Communities in Landscapes 14. Global Change: Humans & Plants 15. End of Term Exam 16. Feedback |
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| Evaluation Methods and Policy | Grading: Class attendance and submission of questions related to listening exercise (20%), weekly quizzes based on assigned pre-class reading materials (30%), in-class group presentation (20%) on a topic in the field of plant ecology, and an end of term exam (30%). | ||
| Course Requirements | None | ||
| Study outside of Class (preparation and review) | Students should read or listen to the required pre-class materials and submit any required assignment before the class, and come to class ready to participate in class activities.Typically, this will entail listening to a short video or podcast (10 min. or less), as well as reading a 2 or 3 page handout and be prepared to write answers to 1 or 2 questions about the reading material in the following class (15 to 20 minutes provided in class). | ||
| References, etc. | Handouts will be given out in class, as well as emailed to the students. | ||
