606-303 Botany Systematics & Evolution

Botany 606-202.

This subject will introduce the general principles and modern methods of systematics: how to discover the phylogeny (relationships) of organisms using both morphological characters and molecular (DNA) data; how to use this information to improve the classification systems of plants, and to study aspects of evolution, coevolution and historical biogeography; and how to integrate information from living and fossil plants to discover the past and date evolutionary events. Examples of the diversity and evolution of the Australian flora - both fossil and living forms - will be used throughout this subject. Topics studied include:

• homology and form;

• numerical methods in systematics, phenetics and cladistics;

• evolution of vascular plants, especially gymnosperms and angiosperms;

• fossils;

• historical biogeography; and

• Australian flora.

At the completion of the subject students should gain:

• a knowledge of modern methods of phylogenetic systematics, including the application of morphological and molecular data;

• skills in analysing systematic data, including the use of computer interactive programs; and

• a knowledge of the evolution and diversity of Australian flora, both living and fossil groups of plants.

1500-word essay; practical reports totalling up to 2000 words (30%); 3-hour end-of-semester written examination (70%).