Ecol Evolution of Plant Structure, Function, and Diversity Fall 2002 (Intro. Physio. Ecology)

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1 Ecol Evolution of Plant Structure, Function, and Diversity Fall 2002 (Intro. Physio. Ecology) INSTRUCTORS: Brian J. Enquist Dept of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Arizona Tucson, AZ Telephone: (520) benquist@u.arizona.edu Office location: 422 BioSciences West Office hours: Tuesday 3:30-5:00 PM Travis Huxman Dept of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Arizona Tucson, AZ 8572 Telephone: (520) huxman@u.arizona.edu Office location: 427 BioSciences West Office hours: Thursday, 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm. COURSE DESCRIPTION AND GOALS: This course will provide a foundation for advance study in plant ecology, physiological ecology and ecosystem ecology by introducing the major themes in the evolution and diversification of plant form and function. During two 1 hour and 15min lectures each week the course will investigate the selective pressures operating on aspects of plant growth, survival and reproduction along with associated variation in physiological and morphological characters. Topics approached will include: structure-function relationships of major plant organs, modular and ontogenetic growth, the evolution of photosynthetic characteristics, transport and structural constraints associated with water use, abiotic and biotic stresses and life-history variation, the physiology of reproduction, seed physiological and morphological strategies, and the diversification of the major plant groups. The remaining lectures will focus on the evolution of modern day plant diversity by tracing plant evolution and functional innovations through geologic time. Emphasis will be placed on learning how anatomical and physiological attributes of plants are mechanistically linked. CREDIT HOURS: 3 (a laboratory is to be attached in the near future) PREREQUISITES: MCB 181R, MCB 181L, ECOL 182, CHEM 101B, CHEM 102B SCHEDULE: Tuesday and Thursdays, 2:00 3:15, FCS Building Room 225 LECTURE TEXTS AND COURSE WEBSITE: (1) Niklas, K.J. (1997) The Evolutionary Biology of Plants. University of Chicago Press, Chicago.

2 (2) Crawley, M.J. (1997) Plant Ecology, Blackwell Science, Oxford. (3) Supplemental readings from a physiological ecology text and a plant anatomy text will also be provided. (*these books can be purchased through an on-line store, such as Class readings will augment the lectures and provide background for exams and quizzes. All assigned reading material will be made available for copying through a course folder. The folder will be kept with the front secretary in the main departmental office of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. A copy of the syllabus as well as an update on class related information is available via the course website: ACADEMIC, GRADING,AND ETHICAL POLICIES: A % B 89 80% C 79 70% D 69 60% Breakdown of points/percentages Undergraduate Graduate Exam 1 30% Exam 1 25% Exam 2 40% Exam 2 35% Quiz1 10% Quiz1 5% Quiz2 10% Quiz 2 5% Participation 10% Participation 5% Graduate project 25% Lecture Examinations: There will be two examinations, including a 75-minute midterm and one 2-hour final exam. A portion of the final exam will be cumulative, covering all aspects of the course. All exams will be closed-book. University policy regarding ethical conduct during exams will be strictly enforced. Missed exams will not be rescheduled. You will not be permitted to take an exam if you are more than 20 minutes late for the exam. If you are unable to be present for an exam for legitimate reasons, you must contact the course administrators in advance to be excused. No early final exams will be given, so please do not make airline reservations or other travel arrangements on (or before) the date of the final exam. Grade Appeals: If you feel that an error has been made in the grading of your exam, you must submit an appeal form to the course administrator within 48 hours after your exam is returned to you. Appeal forms will be available only in the course office (BSE 109). Please note that if your grade appeal is determined to be frivolous by the instructors, you will lose at least 2 additional points.

3 Special Accommodations or Services: Students needing special accommodations or services should contact the course instructors as soon as possible to discuss proper documentation. The documented needs for specialized services must be presented at least two weeks prior to the first midterm exam. Office Hours: We strongly encourage you to attend office hours, during which we will have the opportunity to explore the lecture material in greater detail and answer questions. If you cannot attend office hours for legitimate reasons, please contact us to make an appointment. As a matter of course policy, we will not be available outside of posted office hours and scheduled appointments.

4 Syllabus ECOL (340) Early Evolution and Macroevolution Aug. 27th BE Introduction and overview to central questions and integrative themes. Integration of plant form and function Evolution of Diversity Brief overview of phyllogenetic diversity READING: Enquist et al. (2001) Encyclopedia of Biodiversity, Vol 4 pp Aug. 29th TH A history of photoautotrophy and global impacts General patterns in photosynthetic organisms Evolutionary dynamics Implications for terrestrial organisms READING: KJN CH. 3 (pgs ) - HANDOUT Sept. 3rd BE Evolution/Species and Speciation/Extinction Evolutionary and Ecological Thinking Introduction to the tracheophyte clades Macroevolutionary trends/patterns READING: Selected sections from KJN Ch. 1 and 2 Evolution of Tissues and Organs Sept. 5th BE Origins and Early Events/Invasion of Land Embryophytes Evolution of Vascular Tissues Heterospory READING: Selected subsections from KJN Ch. 4 Sept. 10th BE Early tracheophytes and the invasion of land (1): The Seed/Flower Stem/ Root READING: Selected subsections from KJN Ch. 4; Supp. Reading Sept 12th BE Early tracheophytes and the invasion of land (2): Stem/ Root Leaf Biomechanics READING: Subsections from KJN Ch. 4; Supp. Reading

5 Sept. 17th BE QUIZ 1 Key features influencing the evolution of plant form Whole-plant transport Apoplast/Symplast READING: KJN Ch. 4 and some of 7 Sept. 19th BE Evolutionary convergence and divergence Xylem Seed/Fruit READING: KJN Ch. 4 and some of 7 Sept. 24th GUEST Plant taxonomy and cladistics: Mapping Evolutionary Innovation Introduction to Orders and families READING: To be announced Sept. 26th GUEST Plant taxonomy and cladistics: Mapping Evolutionary Innovation Introduction to Orders and families READING: To be announced Whole-plant Integration Oct. 1st BE Whole-plant transport (Goin up) Roots to Leaves Evolution of Xylem and water transport Xylem Evolution and Ecology READING: MC Ch. 2; Supp Reading Oct. 3rd BE Whole-plant transport - (Goin down) Leaves to Roots Phloem READING: To be announced Oct. 8th BE Water balance and Evolutionary Patterns Photosynthesis/Transpiration Compromise READING: MC Ch. 2; Supp Reading Oct. 10th BE Plant Growth/Allometry/Biomechanics Constraints on plant growth and allocation Evolution of optimal integrative designs

6 READING: To be announced Constraints on Form, Function, and Diversity Oct. 15th BE Oct. 17th The Global Physical Template Global climate, and brief geological history of the globe Constraints on functional diversity Global patterns of diversity MID TERM EXAM Oct. 22nd GUEST Plant Life histories Physiological/energetic/allocational trade-offs Models and concepts of constraints and trade-offs Optimal life-histories READING: MC CH.14 (sections of) Oct. 24th GUEST Evolution of morphology and allocation Global patterns of physiological and morpohological integration Fitness landscapes READING: To be announced Oct. 29th TH Physiological Ecology of Photosynthetic Gas Exchange READING: MC CH. 1 HANDOUT Oct. 31st TH Stomatal conductance balancing a trade-off Optimization of gain functions READING: MC CH. 1 - HANDOUT Nov. 5th TH The evolution of photosynthetic pathway variation CAM, C3/C4 evolutionary history CO2 levels in the past and impact on plant evolution READING: MC CH. 1 - HANDOUT Nov. 7th TH Constraints on distribution: water transport and environment Water balance revisited READING: MC CH. 2 HANDOUT Nov. 7th TH Nutrient use, acquisition and metabolism Resource dynamics in soils

7 READING: MC Ch. 3 - HANDOUT Uptake and transport in plants Assimilation and metabolism Nov. 12th TH QUIZ 2 Integrating photosynthesis, water use and nutrient use. READING: HANDOUT Nov. 14th TH An integrative view of plant functional types READING: MC Ch. 4 Nov. 19th TH Plant response to herbivory Integration of physiological signals Secondary compounds READING: MC Ch. 5 & 10 Large Scale Processes Nov. 21st TH Mycorrizhae symbiotic interactions with organisms in the soil READING: HANDOUT Nov. 26th TH Interactions pollination syndromes etc. Evolution of plant-animal interactions READING: MC CH. 9 Nov. 28th THANKSGIVING NO CLASS Dec. 3rd TH Large scale ecosystem processes from individuals to communities Photosynthetic patterns in canopies Contrasting leaves and canopies Water balance in ecosystems READING: HANDOUT Dec. 5th TH Plant role in ecosystem and global processes Global climate and biotic feedback READING: MC CH. 18

8 Dec. 10th TH Global change and plant function, constraints on response Evolutionary implications READING: HANDOUT (Date to be Announced) FINAL EXAM

CABRILLO COLLEGE : Fall 2008

Instructor: Nicole Crane Office #620 ph. 479-5094 e-mail: nicrane@cabrillo.edu www.cabrillo.edu/~ncrane CABRILLO COLLEGE : Fall 2008 BIOLOGY 1C: Plant Biology and Ecological Principles Textbooks: 1) Biology,