SYSTEMATIC BOTANY SPRING Biol 331 (4 credits) Instructor: Steffi Ickert-Bond TA: Carolyn Parker

Transcription

1 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY SPRING Biol 331 (4 credits) Instructor: Steffi Ickert-Bond TA: Carolyn Parker UA Museum UA Museum steffi.ickertbond@uaf.edu fnclp1@uaf.edu Office Hours: Wednesdays 2-3, Museum (or by appt.) Wednesdays 1-3 pm, Museum (or by appt.) Course description: Classification of flowering plants, with an emphasis on Alaskan flora; taxonomic principles, classical and experimental methods of research. Course prerequisites: Biol 239 or permission from instructor. Lecture schedule (subject to change). All lectures are in Irving 201 M, W 1:00-2:00 p.m. Readings are from Walters & Keil unless otherwise noted Topic Readings Jan. 17 Introduction, vegetative morphology and function p Floral morphology and function p Plant anatomy Suppl. Judd et al., p Principles of plant systematics Suppl. Judd et al., p History of classification Suppl. Judd et al., p Feb. 5 Plant nomenclature p Plant nomenclature p Vascular plant overview Suppl. Judd et al., p Life history of angiosperms p Guest lecture: Richard Bond, City of Tempe, --- Arizona, Water Conservation Office 21 MIDTERM I (through last lecture) Guest lecture, Carolyn Parker, Rare plants of --- Alaska 28 Guest lecture: Carl Roland, Denali National Park & --- Reserve, National Park Service Mar. 5 Origin of flowering plants 1 p. 143, handout 7 Origin of flowering plants 2 p. 143, handout SPRING BREAK NO CLASS Ferns and Fern Allies p Introduction to seed plants handout 26 Conifers, cycads, ginkgos and gnetophytes p Molecular plant systematics p Apr. 2 MIDTERM II Caryophyllidae, Rosidae p , Asteridae 1 p Petaloid and graminoid monocots p Asteridae 2 p Evolutionary trends I pollination Suppl. Judd et al., p Evolutionary trends II ecological specialization Suppl. Judd et al., p Evolutionary trends III fruit specialization, Suppl. Judd et al., p dispersal May 2 Alaska Vegetation, guest lecture: TBA Biogeography and floristics handout 11 LECTURE FINAL 1-3 p.m. (comprehensive) ---

2 Lab schedule (subject to change). Labs will be in Irving 103, unless otherwise stated; Tu,Th 2-5 p.m. DATE Jan 16 Jan 18 Jan 23 Jan 25 Jan 30 Feb 1 Feb 6 Feb 8 Feb 13 Feb 15 Feb 20 Feb 22 Feb 27 Mar 1 Mar 6 Mar 8 Mar Mar 20 Mar 22 Mar 27 Mar 29 Apr 3 Apr 5 Apr 10 Apr 12 Apr 17 Apr 24 Apr 26 May 1 May 3 LAB Instructor in lab, however no lab is scheduled Introduction to lab sessions and expectations. Review of plant vegetative morphology. Constructing and using technical keys. Review of plant reproductive morphology. Review of vegetative morphology. More practice using technical keys. Basal angiosperm families and groups? Ranunculaceae, Papaveraceae Caryophyllaceae, Portulacaceae Saxifragaceae, Crassulaceae, Grossulariaceae, Haloragaceae Polygonaceae, Droseraceae, review for quiz! QUIZ! Post quiz review! Geraniaceae, Violaceae, and a few other small families. Key live plants to family. Salicaceae, Betulaceae Fabaceae Rosaceae Brassicaceae Onagraceae, Myricaceae, Urticaceae, and more Review for quiz. QUIZ! Ericaceae, Pyrolaceae, Empetraceae, Diapensiaceae Key live plants to family. Cornaceae, Boraginaceae, Gentianaceae SPRING BREAK! WHOPPEE! Spring Solstice! Plantaginaceae, Scropulariaceae, Lamiaceae Apiaceae, visit to Herbarium Caprifoliaceae, Campanulaceae, misc. families Asteraceae Key live plants to family! Quiz! Review of quiz. Key live plants to family. Gynmosperms, 'fern allies' Liliaceae, Orchidaceae Poaceae Cyperaceae Juncaceae. Monocot keys to family. Potamogetonaceae, Sparganiacae, and other aquatics Field trip!!!! Review for final. LAB FINAL EXAM!

3 Course goals: The major goal of the course is to provide you with a familiarity of vascular plant identification and classification, including the biological principles, practices, and philosophies involved in the study of vascular plant taxonomy. Specific objectives include the following: 1) To understand the morphological and ecological variation found in plants, the ways in which this variation might be generated and maintained in plant populations, and how it is evaluated, classified and (when appropriate) named by botanists. 2) To introduce you to mechanisms of plant evolution and an overview of current concepts of vascular plant (especially angiosperm) evolutionary history. 3) To train you in the effective and efficient use of botanical manuals, and their technical keys, for plant identification. 4) To familiarize yourself with the major vascular plant families found in Alaska and other northern regions. Ability to sight recognize several important seed plant genera. 5) To communicate in a professional manner, using the vocabulary specific to plant systematics. Course expectations: You are expected to attend classes and labs, and to arrive on time! (MW 1:00, Tu,Th 2:00) If you have to miss any presentation, try to arrange for a friend to take notes for you. Remember to check if you have missed any handouts. Systematics includes many different topics and sometimes different points of view. We are lucky to be having several guest lecturers joining us during the semester. Please give them your full attention, take the opportunity to ask them questions, and, yes.the material and insight they bring to the class lectures will be included in the exams! Course instruction will consist of hourly lectures twice a week, labs twice a week, and lecture and lab readings. Course policies: Material presented in all lectures and labs scheduled during normal class periods is fair game on any quiz or exam (scheduled or unanounced). Lectures and lab will begin immediately upon the hour of scheduled meeting times. Plagiarism and other forms of cheating will result in an automatic "F" in the class. Please turn off or silence cell phones during class and lab. A cell phone ringing during class or lab will result in a deduction of 1% from your final grade; in addition, if your cell phone goes off during a test or quiz, you will be penalized 10% for that exam. Attending office hours at least once during the semester is highly encouraged. Disabilities Services: The Office of Disability Services implements the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and insures that UAF students have equal access to the campus

4 and course materials. We will work with the Office of Disabilities Services (203 Whit., ) to provide reasonable accommodation to students with disabilities. Additional course information: This class requires extensive memorization of taxonomic nomenclature, anatomical and morphological features, and paleontological dates (in addition to lecture and reading material). This can seem daunting, but it is nonetheless necessary to gain an appreciation and understanding of plant diversity and evolution. Study groups are strongly encouraged. Handouts will be provided at the beginning of each lecture and/or lab. Extracurricular opportunities: One or more voluntary activities outside of class time will be scheduled to provide you with the opportunity to learn specimen preparation in the Herbarium at the University of Alaska Museum. You will learn about the value of museum specimens in science and conservation in both lecture and lab. Guest lecturers: There are several guest lectures scheduled for the class. Content from all of these lectures will be included in lecture and/or lab exams. Grading and late policies: Grading will be on a curve, at the discretion of the instructors. Assignments will be accepted late only by prior arrangement with the teaching assistant, and 10% of full credit will be deducted for each day that the material is late. For quizzes and exams the staff will often provide special, non-repeatable materials. Exams and quizzes will therefore be administered only on the announced day and time, and cannot be taken late. Failure to take one will result in no credit for it, unless an exception for a crisis beyond the student s control has been arranged in advance with the instructors (coincidence of exam or quiz days, or assignment due dates, in different courses is not a legitimate crisis!). Exam dates are given in the course schedule. Quizzes will be announced in advance, as the course progresses. Your final grade will be determined based on the following: Lecture MIDTERM 1 - Feb 19 12% MIDTERM 2 - Apr 2 13% FINAL - May 11 25% Assigned homework 5% Laboratory Quizzes 20% FINAL LAB PRACTICAL 20% Keying Exercises 5% A % B % C % D % F 59 % or below Organization of the lab periods The laboratory periods will begin on time (2:00 p.m.). Presentations on new families or larger groups will be made at the beginning of the lab period. This time will also be used to cover any extra class business, pass out handouts, give quizzes, etc. It is essential that you not miss the first half hour or more of lab, because that would put you

5 at a great disadvantage. The remaining lab time will be for you to study and identify representatives of the new families covered that period. Books and supplies Required: -Biol 331 dissecting instruments kit, specially ordered by the UAF bookstore from Carolina Biological Supply Co. The set includes high-quality, finely pointed forceps and dissecting needles much superior to those in general biology dissecting kits, and much more effective for the dissection of the tiny flowers and other structures that one needs to do to identify many plants. If you take good care of these instruments they will valuably serve you for many future biological purposes besides plant identification, and they are a real bargain at the price at which we have obtained them. -Walters, D.R. and Keil, D.J. Vascular Plant Taxonomy. 4 th edition. We shall make extensive use of its text, keys, and illustrations in both lecture and in lab, and you will need to refer to these so you should always bring your copy of this book with you. Recommended: Several copies of the following books have been ordered by the bookstore to be available to you if you wish to have your own personal copy. -Harris, J.G., and M.W. Harris. Plant Identification Terminology. $ An illustrated glossary that you may want to have on hand in the lab. Also contains an illustrated, systematic overview of morphological variations in stems, leaves, roots, inflorescences, flowers, and fruits, with the terminology that is applied to these and used in plant identification keys. This is similar to, but more extensive than, the treatment of these topics by Walters and Keil. -Hultén, E. Flora of Alaska and Neighboring Territories. ca. $ ! This flora is still the bible for Alaskan botany, but a now somewhat imperfect one, since it was published in 1968 and much has changed in Alaskan plant taxonomy since then. We have copies in the lab for you to use. If you will be doing botany in Alaska, you may consider buying your own copy. Hultén will also be on 24 hr reserve at the Bioscience Library. -Cody, W.J. Flora of the Yukon Territory. Much newer (therefore taxonomically much more up to date), and cheaper, than Hultén (ca. $60). This flora is useful for work in interior, alpine, or arctic Alaska, since most of the species that occur in these areas also occur in Canada s Yukon Territory. Like Hultén, it is completely illustrated, many of its drawings actually being borrowed from those in Hultén. Many of the species keys are improved from those of Hultén, and are based on more recent taxonomic treatments, as is the species nomenclature which therefore differs in many instances from Hultén s. However, the species distribution maps, unlike Hultén s, cover only the Yukon Territory. Other books to be placed on reserve for Biol 331 in the BioSciences Library, to provide optional, supplementary reading for students interested in this. -Judd, W.S., et al Plant Systematics, a Phylogenetic Approach. An excellent general and up to date (2002) text on plant systematics that emphasizes

6 evolutionary issues rather than plant identification, but includes family descriptions with a world wide perspective, and beautifully executed illustrations of representative plants and plant parts. This book provides valuable detailed information on current interpretations of vascular plant phylogenies, for those who want more on this than the limited exposure to it that we shall give in this course. -Briggs, D. and Walters, S.M Plant variation and evolution. 3rd edition. The standard for the topic; to be studied carefully by anyone interested in going on in the field of plant evolution. -Hickey, M. and C. King. Common families of flowering plants. Illustrations plants and plant parts from important North Temperate angiosperm families, including most of those considered in this course; extensively illustrated introductory material on the vegetative and floral morphology needed for plant identification and classification. -Zomlefer, W.B. Guide to Flowering Plant Families. A similar book whose author is both a taxonomist and an artist; the drawings are excellent. A copy of this book from the UAF Herbarium will be available during labs, but the Bioscience Library appears not to have a copy. We may also occasionally give you reading suggestions, mostly from the books listed as on reserve for the course. These would be supplementary and/or complimentary to the lectures and labs. The reserve books are also sources for additional reading, of your own choice, on a topic if you missed the lecture or lab that covered it, or feel that you need or want more than Walters & Keil give on that topic.