Plant Ecophysiology

Code

BIOS3015

School

Biosciences

Level

3

Credits

10

Semesters

Spring UK

Summary

This module explores plant adaptations to extreme conditions which are increasingly affecting our society including drought, flood, salinity, heavy metals, plant-plant interactions (allelopathy and mycorrhiza networks) and nutrient deficiencies. Below-ground biological processes including water and nutrient uptake are covered within these themes. Both agricultural and natural systems will be discussed throughout these themes to stimulate discussion on future ways we can use beneficial traits to improve crop productivity and resource management under variable climate/soil conditions. Practical sessions cover methods and technologies for measuring root physiology and phenotyping in response to soil conditions. Transferable skills around digital communication of scientific concepts are central to the semester-long assessment along with a team work which is a key employability skill. It is highly suitable for those with interests in plant physiology, environmental biology, crop science or science communication.

Target Students

Open to all students.

Classes

• One 1-hour workshop each week for 4 weeks
• One 2-hour tutorial each week for 4 weeks
• One 3-hour lecture each week for 5 weeks
• One 3-hour field studies
• One 3-hour computing

Lectures, tutorials and workshops are run within a 3 hour block each week of the teaching semester (including time allocated to coursework).

Assessment

• 25% Coursework 1: Poster and storyboard displaying scientific processes to be covered in the multimedia task. This is to ensure the depth of content is adequate and not too broad (due around the middle of semester, exact dates to be confirmed)
• 75% Coursework 2: 10 min documentary video explaining one of the module themes (water conditions, salinity, heavy metals, plant-plant interactions, biofortification). (Due two days before the last 3-hour class when all the documentaries will be watched together). Videos can be made available on the module MediaSpace channel with all appropriate permissions. . PLEASE NOTE: As a team project each team will also need to submit a statement of contributions (Similar to requirements for submitting research manuscripts for publication) and the convenor reserves the right to scale marks allocated per team member if concerns are raised. There will be opportunities to discuss this throughout semester
• Coursework 3: Workshops through semester will focus on team skills development and support via creation of a multimedia product. Workshop 1: teams will be given teamwork advice, decide topics, begin planning team roles, set deadlines and arrange meeting times. Workshop 2 (1hr; a few weeks in): negotiation task; Workshop 3 (1 hr; well into semester) reflection on team and self-progress; Workshop 4 (1hr the week before the video is due at the end of semester): negotiation of authorship order – student discuss contributions to video and authorship order is discussed as typical for a publication.

Assessed by end of spring semester

Educational Aims

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the module students should: 

1) Understand:  
(a) The pathways and mechanisms involved in the uptake, transport and use of water and nutrients 
(b) Plant adaptive responses to water (drought and flood), nutrient, salt and heavy metal stresses 
(c) Crop improvement strategies based on the roots (biofortification, and pollutant exclusion/Safe crops). 

2) Have developed skills to: 
(a) Evaluate root physiology (through field sessions) 
(b) Communicate complex ideas visually (in particular multimedia formats) and 
(C) Work in teams (supported by workshops and evidenced by a documentary video including a contribution statement in credits)

Conveners

• Dr Amanda Rasmussen