Course Syllabus
Plant Physiological Ecology
Through a combination of lecturing, discussions, lab exercises, and student led projects, you will gain the following from the class:
-current overview of the field of plant physiological ecology (Energy balances, water relations, stomatal physiology, gas exchange, environmental aspects of mineral nutrition, stress physiology, and productivity)
-relationship of plant physiological ecology to your research
-working knowledge of methods related to your research
-group research and writing skills on a project of interest to you
PBIO 8890
Lisa Donovan
Fall 2006
Principal Course Assignments:
LECTURES, DISCUSSIONS & LABS
Jan 9 Mon, Lecture 1- Introduction, Assumptions and Approaches, Chapter 1
Jan 10 Tues, Lab- Intro to Instrumentation & Data Analysis Lab, Discuss Group Projects
Jan 11 Wed, Lecture 2- Photosynthesis
Jan 13 Fri, Discussion
Jan 16 Mon, NO CLASS, M.L. King Jr. Holiday
Jan 17 Tues, Lab- Discuss Group Projects, literature review
Jan 18 Wed, Lecture 3- Photosynthesis
Jan 20 Fri, Discussion
Jan 23 Mon, Lecture 4- Photosynthesis
Jan 24 Tues, Lab- Photosynthesis Lab; Group Projects proposal draft due
Jan 25 Wed, Lecture 5- Photosynthesis
Jan 27 Fri, Discussion
Jan 30 Mon, Lecture 6- Photosynthesis
Jan 31 Tues, Lab- Group Projects, discussion, proposal revision, start experimental logistics
Feb 1 Wed Lecture 7- Respiration
Feb 3 Fri, Discussion
Feb 6 Mon, Lecture 8- Respiration
Feb 7 Tuesday, Lab- Microclimate Lab, Group Projects
Feb 8 Wed, Lecture 9- Phloem Transport
Feb 10 Fri, Discussion
Feb 13 Mon, Exam 1 (lectures 1-9)
Feb 14 Tues, Lab- Group Projects
Feb 15 Wed, Lecture 10- Plant Water Relations,
Feb 17 Fri, Lecture 11- Plant Water Relations, Cellular
Group Projects proposal due at start of class
Feb 20 Mon, Lecture 12-Plant Water Relations, Xylem
Feb 21 Tues, Lab- Water relations Lab, Group Projects
Feb 22 Wed, Lecture 13- Water Relations, Whole Plant
Feb 24 Fri, Discussion
Feb 27 Mon, Lecture 14- Water Relations, Whole Plant
Feb 28 Tues, Lab- Group Projects
Mar 1 Wed, Lecture 15 TBA
Mar 3 Fri, Discussion
Mar 6 Mon, Lecture 16- Energy Budgets
Mar 7 Tues, Lab- Energy Budget Lab, Group Projects
Mar 8 Wed, Lecture 17- Mineral Nutrition
Mar 10 Fri, Discussion
Mar 13-17, Spring Break
Mar 20 Mon, Lecture 18- Mineral Nutrition
Mar 21 Tues, Lab- Group projects
Mar 22 Wed, Lecture 19- Mineral Nutrition
Mar 24 Fri, Discussion
Mar 27 Mon, Lecture 20- Growth and allocation
Mar 28 Tues, Lab- Group Projects
Mar 29 Wed, Lecture 21- Growth and allocation
Mar 31 Fri, Discussion
Apr 3 Mon, Exam 2 (lectures 10-21)
Apr 4 Tues, Lab- Group Projects
Apr 5 Wed, Lecture 22- Mycorrhizae
Apr 7 Fri, Discussion
April 10 Mon, Lecture 23-Competition
April 11 Tues, Lab- Group Projects
April 12 Wed, Lecture 24- Competition
April 14 Fri, Discussion
April 17 Mon, Lecture 25- Plant defense
April 18 Tues, Lab- Group Projects
April 19 Wed, Lecture 26- Plant defense
April 21 Fri, Discussion
April 24 Mon, Lecture 27- Evolutionary ecophysiology
April 25 Tues, Lab- Group Projects
April 26 Wed, Lecture 28- Ecosystem ecophysiology
April 28 Fri, Discussion
May 1 Mon, Exam 3, (option, student lectures/presentations instead of exam 3)
May 8 Mon, Final Exam, 3:30-6:30, Final project presentations, papers due at 3:30
The purpose of the lab is to introduce you to approaches and methods used in plant physiological ecology. To do this we will learn a number of techniques and make measurements on different plant species growing in the greenhouse and in nearby habitats. You will also work with these and other methods in a group setting toward the goal of completing a research project and writing a scientific paper.
The first several weeks will be spent learning a number of techniques and becoming more familiar with computers for data management and writing. Reading assignments and handouts will be provided as the class progresses. It is expected that you will take the time to read any assigned chapters and handouts provided, before each week's lab. During the initial labs, you will also be exposed to a number of potential research problems, and start formulating your group research proposals. Details on the expected scope and extent of these research problems will be provided.
The majority of the lab time will be spent working in independent groups to collect and analyze data relevant to your chosen research projects. The instructor and the TA will assist each group with clarification of objectives, experimental procedures and data evaluation. The Group Proposal must include the following:
1) a statement of the research objectives/goals,
2) a brief summary of literature explaining the background and significance of your research objective,
3) a description of the plant species to be studied and the location(s) for study,
4) a description of the methods to be used including sample sizes and necessary equipment,
5) references (~10-15) of relevant literature and proposed methodologies,
6) a budget.
The experiments should be started by January 31 and the bulk of the data collection should be completed by the end of March. The remaining weeks will be primarily for data analysis and manuscript preparation. The end product for each group project will be a co-authored manuscript in the format for submission to Functional Ecology, and an oral presentation in the style an annual Ecological Society meeting. We will provide guidelines on how to write a scientific paper and how to make/give a presentation.
Specific Course Requirements for Grading:
COURSE GRADING : total of 1000 points
175 -Exam 1
175 -Exam 2
175 -Exam 3 (option, student lectures/presentations instead of exam 3)
175 -5 problem sets (35 points each) covering lab and lecture material
100 -Attendance and discussion
200 -Group research project (broken down into the following: 25 points for participation in group data gathering, data analysis, writing and preparation for presentation (each person in group individually evaluated); 125 points for final group paper, written in format for Functional Ecology (each person in the group gets the same grade); 50 points for final presentation of group lab projects in format of a national society meeting (each person in group gets the same grade)
Grading Policy:
Based on 1000 pionts total in class, as detailed above
Attendance Policy:
Attendence required
Required Course Material Including Texts:
-test: Plant Physiological Ecology (1998) H. Lambers, F.S. Chapin III, T.L. Pons. Springer.
-readings for discussions as proivded on web
Makeup Exam Policy:
Make up exams are oral exams