BIO 2204 Plant Diversity

STAFFING:

RATIONALE:

This course provides students with a broad background in the diversity of organisms in the plant kingdom and an overview of the evolution and current distribution of Australia's unique flora. This course also provides students with the skills necessary for accurate plant idfentification. An understanding of the evolutionary relationships of plants, their form and adaptations to the environment and practical skills in identifying them is valuable to many professionals, especially plant biologists, ecologists, environmental scientists and teachers.

SYNOPSIS:

This course is designed to provide students with a grounding in diversity of green plants and their habitats, with particular reference to Australian flowering plants, and to provide them with skills of identification. Practical work both in the laboratory and field is an important component of this programme. The assignments are designed to encourage students to extend their field experience in their own time and to increase their awareness of the local flora.

OBJECTIVES:

On completion of this course students will be able to:

1. demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the diversity of organisms classified in Kingdom Plantae;
2. demonstrate an understanding of the adaptations of many plants to their habitats;
3. demonstrate an understanding of the history of the Australian continent and the evolution of Australia's unique terrestrial flora;
4. develop an understanding of the biogeography of the Australian flora in relation to historical and present day factors;
5. demonstrate skills of identification both of flowering and non-flowering plants;
6. demonstrate a familiarity with herbarium and collecting procedures.

TOPICS:

TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed:

ALL textbooks and materials are available for purchase from USQ BOOKSHOP (unless otherwise stated). Orders may be placed via secure internet, free fax 1800642453, phone 07 46312742 (within Australia), or mail. Overseas students should fax +61 7 46311743, or phone +61 7 46312742. For costs, further details, and internet ordering, use the 'Textbook Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au click 'Semester', then enter your 'Course Code' (no spaces).

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

A comprehensive list of references for identification of Queensland plant species is provided in the Practical Guide.

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS:

ASSESSMENT DETAILS:

NOTES:

1.

Examination dates will be available during the Semester. Please refer to the examination timetable when published.

2.

Examination dates will be available during the Semester. Please refer to the examination timetable when published.

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

1. Attendance requirements:
   It is the students' responsibility to attend and participate appropriately in all activities (such as lectures, tutorials, laboratories and practical work) scheduled for them, and to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration. Students must attend the excursion for this course to be able to satisfy the requirements of Objectives 2 and 5.
2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
   To complete each of the assessment items satisfactorily, students must obtain at least 50% of the marks available for each assessment item.
3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
   If students submit assignments after the due date without prior approval then a penalty of 10% of the total marks available for the assignment will apply for each working day late.
4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
   To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the available weighted marks for the summative assessment items. Students who do not qualify for a Passing grade may, at the discretion of the Examiner, be awarded a Supplementary Examination and/or assigned additional work to demonstrate to the Examiner that they have achieved the required standard. It is expected that such students will have gained at least 45 % of the total marks available for all summative assessment items.
5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
   The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the weighted aggregate of the marks obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.
6. Examination information:
   In a Closed Examination, candidates are allowed to bring only writing and drawing instruments into the examination.
7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
   Any Deferred or Supplementary examinations for this course will normally be held during the examination period of Semester 3 of the current academic year.
8. University Regulations:
   Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6. Assessment, and 5.10 Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene University Regulations. These regulations can be found at the URL http://www.usq.edu.au/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm or in the current USQ Handbook.

ASSESSMENT NOTES