PLBIO 2300 - Global Plant Biodiversity and Vegetation

(CU-ITL)

Fall. Offered alternate years. 3 credits.

K. Nixon.

Plants are distributed across the globe in distinctive vegetation types, and have a close association with local and global climate. This course discusses factors determining vegetation structure, plant diversity, biodiversity hotspots, plant adaptations, human-plant interactions and climate change with an emphasis on ecological concepts, plant-climate interactions and plant adaptation at a very basic level. Intended for both Plant Science majors and also students without a strong background in plant sciences. An associated field trip to Patagonia that was previously offered with this course is now offered as a separate course with credits in the spring semester.

Outcome 1: Students will be able to evaluate any area of the globe and predict the general vegetation types that should occur based on an understanding of the relationship between climate and plant distribution, adaptation and form. In addition, students will be able to evaluate individual plants for morphological adaptation syndromes to drought, salinity, predation and excess water.