Leaves to Landscape

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

Estimated total time commitment (including non-contact time): 170 hours

Students undertaking this subject will be expected to regularly access an internet-enabled computer.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. This course requires all students to enrol in subjects where they must actively and safely contribute to field excursions and laboratory activities. Students who feel their disability will impact on meeting this requirement are encouraged to discuss this matter with the Subject Coordinator and Disability Liaison http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/ students email: disability-liaison@unimelb.edu.au

This subject provides an introduction to plant structure, function, diversity and ecology and explores how these interact with landscape, climate, and production systems. While the subject deals with plant basics, it focuses on knowledge required for managing vegetation.

Topics include:

• Leaves, how they develop and how they shape the plant body and contribute to reproduction (plant life-cycles)
• Leaves and energy (leaves as the primary light harvesting organ that supplies energy for most living things)
• Leaves and water (roots, transpiration, responding to water stress and salinity)
• Leaves and canopies (plant architecture, canopies and acclimation/adaptation
• What leaves produce (stems and bark)
• Diversity of plants (including those without leaves)
• Leaves and their interactions with other species, including humans, and the landscapes they shape

Students taking BIOL10004 (650-141) Biology of Cells and Organisms (BSc) as a Breadth subject will be exempt from this subject.

At the completion of this subjects students should:

• Have a knowledge of the basic processes of plant physiology
• Be familiar with the structure and function of plants
• Understand the mechanisms of plant reproduction, growth and development
• Have an overview of plant diversity and the place of plants in natural and anthropogenic ecosystems.

This subject is intended to provide students, who have not completed first year BSc biology, with sufficient biological background for subsequent subjects in the Landscape Management stream.

Excursion reports (30%) due 4 weeks after the day of the excursion;

Ongoing assessment of practical exercises and laboratory problems during the semester (25%);

A 2-hour written examination in the examination period (45%).

Raven, P.H., Evert, R.F. and Eichorn, S.E. (2005) Biology of plants. 7th edition. W.H. Freeman and Co. Publ. New York, USA. ISBN 0-7167-1007-2

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

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Music

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.

On completion of this subject, students should have developed their:

• Ability to observe and record information about the physical world
• Ability to interpret data
• Ability to prepare written reports.

Students taking BIOL10004 (650-141) Biology of Cells and Organisms (BSc) as a Breadth subject will be exempt from this subject.

This subject is intended to provide students, who have not completed first year BSc biology, with sufficient biological background for subsequent subjects in the Landscape Management stream.