BIOPL 2410 - Introductory Plant Biodiversity and Evolution

(PBS)

Fall. 3 credits.

K. J. Niklas.

Introduction to plant diversity, ecology, structure, reproduction, and evolution, with an emphasis on the flowering plants and the history of life on earth. Laboratory and lectures are integrated to provide hands-on skills and concepts. First and second weeks of laboratory are field trips, starting with the first full week of classes.

Outcome 1: You will be able to identify a minimum of eight flowering plant families and 12 vascular plant species native to the NE USA.

Outcome 2: You will be able to distinguish among the major land plant lineages.

Outcome 3: You will be able to identify the three major plant life cycles and to conceptually understand how these life cycles are related to one another.

Outcome 4: You will be able to understand and communicate the basic principles of Darwinian evolution by means of natural selection and the major principles of plant biology.