BS23220 - PLANT ECOPHYSIOLOGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Module Identifier	BS23220
Module Title	PLANT ECOPHYSIOLOGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Academic Year	2001/2002
Co-ordinator	Dr Aileen Smith
Semester	Semester 1
Other staff	Dr Dylan Jones
Pre-Requisite	BS10810 , BS11810
Course delivery	Lecture	30 Hours
	Practical	15 Hours (5 x 3 hours)
	Seminars / Tutorials	2 Hours 1 x 2 hours
Assessment	Practical exercise	1.5 Hours One 1.5 hour practical	40%
	Exam	3 Hours One 3-hour theory paper	60%
	Resit assessment	3 Hours One 3-hour theory paper	60%
	Resit assessment	1.5 Hours One 1.5-hour practical	40%

Aims and objectives

To introduce the student to the development and application of plant physiological principles to plant growth in natural and agricultural environments. Create an awareness of current and future changes in our environment impacting on plants. Give an insight into the effects of atmospheric pollution on plant growth and development. Provide information on existing legislation and global policy on climate change.

Content

The approach adopted is designed to emphasis the close relationship between the biophysical, physiological and ecological aspects of the adaptation and acclimation of higher plants to aerial and sub-terranean environments. Key themes include the assessment and analysis of plant growth and carbon partitioning, the interactions of internal and external factors in determining photosynthetic efficiency and the seasonal control of growth and development. The concepts of biological stress and strain will be used to discuss plant adaptations and acclimation to a variety of environments and will provide a basis for discussion on limits to plant distribution. Students will then progress to study and assess the consequences for global and national plant life of climate change. The direct and indeirect aspects of anthropeogenic pollution are discussed in relation to impacts on plant physiological processes and consequences for ecological distribution. Direct aspects of pollution include plant exposure to increased levels of trophospheric ozone, sulphur and nitorgen oxides, and carbon dioxide while indirect aspects include factors promoting stratospheric ozone depletion, altered precipitation and global climate warming.

The practical projects reinforce and develop themes of the lecture course.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the modules students should

have advanced their knowledge and understanding of many of the aspects of plant eco-physiology which were introduced in Module BS11810
have an increased awareness of aspects of the biological and social significance of changing climate
be able to write-up experiments in the form of a scientific paper.

Reading Lists

Books
** Recommended Text
Salisbury, F.B. & Ross, C.W.. (1992) Plant physiology. Wadsworth.