606-202 Plant Biodiversity

Biology 650-141 and 650-142 (prior to 2004: 600-141 and 600-142). Botany 606-201 is recommended.

This subject introduces the major groups of land plants from liverworts to angiosperms, concentrating on their structure, biology and systematic relationships and evolution. Topics covered include:

• evolution, relationships and classification of land plants;

• major groups of land plants, liverworts, mosses, ferns and seed plants; their structure, biology and fossil record; and

• major families of flowering plants, including Australian flora, their characteristics and identification.

After completion of the lecture, practical and field components of this subject, students should appreciate:

• the variety and classification of land plants;

• skills in plant identification; use of modern identification tools including computer-interactive keys; and

• the concepts of modern phylogenetic analysis as bases for framing evolutionary hypotheses within and between major plant groups.

Two 1-hour practical tests during semester (10% each); written reports on practical work due during the semester (20%); a 3-hour written examination in the examination period (60%).