Entry requirements

Biology 55 Swedish credits (77.5 ECTS credits) + Faunistics and Floristics 5 Swedish credits (7.5 ECTS credits)

Learning outcomes

The aim of the course is to provide a broadened and deeper knowledge of the diversity at the organism groups that belong the tradition area botany on the basis of an evolutionary perspective. Emphases is on the understanding of these organisms' variation, evolution, life strategies and role in the formandet of our planet, their global importance in different ecosystems and their importance for human life and economy.

After the course the student should have good knowledge about and understand

� evolution theory

� speciation

� phylogenetic analysis

� biogeographical analysis

� molecular methods for phylogenetic analysis

� taxonomic theory

� botanical nomenclature

� the herbarium technique

Further they should have good knowledge about important organism groups within the botanical field (algae, fungi, plants), and their evolution and phylogeny and be able to

� describe and explain life cycle of different organism groups, and discuss evolutionary and ecological implications of different life strategies

� compare different examples of life strategies of haploid and diploid organisms

� describe and compare asexual and sexual reproduction from evolutionary and ecological perspectives

� explain the importance of algae, fungi, plants in natural ecosystems

� compare important adaptations to life in water and on land

� summarise and explain the importance of the organism groups for humans

� summarise and explain the importance of the organism groups for human economy

� exemplify functionally the coevolution between plants and animals within pollination biology and dispersion of terrestrial plants; and evaluate the effects of coevolution from an evolutionary perspective.

After the course the students should independently be able to

� carry out botanical fieldwork with collections and morphological and ecological observations

� plan a small scientific study including literature search

� produce DNA sequences for the implementation of phylogenetic reconstruction � laboratory application

� compare and with computer programs align DNA sequences and carry out a phylogenetic analysis

� critically search scientific information from journals, books and the Internet

� write scientific essays from critical studies of scientific papers and Internet sources

� present scientific essays orally and participate in discussions of such presentations

� critically participate in seminars around evolutionary and other issues regarding the organisms

Content

The course contains a combination of theory and practice; lectures connected with laboratory work; fieldwork connected with planning of a scientific study and molecular laboratory work and training of the participants' ability to produce scientific texts orally present scientific projects, critically review and discuss scientific texts The students come in contact with modern phylogenetic research during an individual project. Phylogenetic methods are now widely used within several fields, also within the nature conservation. Through the broad perspective of the course, the participants obtain a good insight in the organisms' importance for ecology and for human future, and for various scenarios of important environmental issues e g climate and management of natural resources. Ecological commitment is centrlal for the discussions during the course. Several parts in the course give a good basis for assessments of interaction between different organism groups and the environmental effects for applied conservation biology, and is also a basis for the understanding for a sustainable development.

Modules: The evolution and diversity of algae and fungi 7.5 credits. The evolution and diversity of terrestrial plants 7.5 credits.

Instruction

The teaching is given as lectures, laboratory work, supervised projects, study visits, discussion seminars and a field course.

Participation in field trips, seminars, laboratory sessions and production and oral presentation of essays are compulsory.

Assessment

Passing grade requires that the following part are passed within the two 7.5 credits modules: Written and oral presentation of projects and assignments, 1 .5 credits; written examination with practical elements, 5 credits and participation in compulsory exercises, 1 credit.