Plants and the Environment

Subject BOTA20001 (2012)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2012.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 2 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

Semester 1, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 2 x one hour lectures per week, 1 x three hour practical class per week
Total Time Commitment: Estimated total time commitment of 120 hours
Prerequisites: One of
Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: Students may not gain credit for this subject and
Subject
Core Participation Requirements: For the purposes of considering applications for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005) and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, this subject requires all students to actively and safely participate in practical class activities. Students who feel their disability may impact upon their participation are encouraged to discuss this with the Subject Coordinator and the Disability Liaison Unit. http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Coordinator

Dr Alex Johnson

Contact

School of Botany

botany-enquiries@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview: This subject examines the interaction between plants and the changing physical environment. More specifically, it explores how the environment affects plant function and structural development, and how plants themselves can alter the environment. Emphasis is given to environmental issues of importance in Australia. Topics will be selected from the following:
  • Water - uptake, loss and stress responses;
  • Abiotic stress - salinity tolerance and other stress responses;
  • Carbon - productivity, carbon crediting, climate change;
  • Nutrients - essential elements and metabolic requirements;
  • Hormones - chemical messenger systems in plants;
  • Fuels – biofuels; and biohydrogen production;
  • Light - photomorphogenic responses of plants;
  • Air - gas exchange in plants, artificial environments
Objectives: At the completion of the subject students should have:
  • A knowledge of plant structure and function in relation to the physical environment;
  • A knowledge of how plants can be used to solve environmental problems;
  • A knowledge of environmental issues that affect plant function in Australia; and
  • Skills in laboratory-based experimental plant science.
Assessment:

Four practical assignments (up to 3000 words in total) evenly spaced through the semester (35%); a 2-hour written examination in the examination period (65%).
Prescribed Texts: None
Breadth Options:

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Notes: This subject is available for science credit to students enrolled in the BSc (both pre-2008 and new degrees), BASc or a combined BSc course.
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: Science credit subjects* for pre-2008 BSc, BASc and combined degree science courses
Science-credited subjects - new generation B-SCI and B-ENG. Core selective subjects for B-BMED.

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