Course content

This course is offered every second year, next time in the autumn 2024. It builds on the foundation in plant physiology established in BI1007 with an emphasis on ecophysiology. It covers the physiological processes involved in plant interaction with the environment, including water relations, gas exchange, energy balance, mineral nutrition, responses to the environment, plant defenses and stress physiology. These processes will be discussed with respect to current problems in agriculture and the environment such as crop and forest productivity and global change. The lab and project work includes measurements of water relations and hydraulic architecture, chlorophyll fluorometry and gas exchange, and frost tolerance. This course provides a physiological background for students studying plant ecology.

Learning outcome

Knowledge:

• On completion of the course the students should be familiar with basic principles and methods in plant ecophysiology.

Skills:

The student will be able to:

• Use a chlorophyll fluorometer and analyze and interpret chlorophyll fluorescence measurements
• Use a pressure chamber to measure xylem and leaf water potentials and construct and interpret a pressure-volume curve
• Make flow rate measurements in woody plant segments and use these to calculate hydraulic architecture parameters
• Use image analysis software to measure leaf area and/or quantify visible symptoms of injury
• Use a gas-exchange instrument for measurement of photosynthesis and respiration in plants and interpret the results

General competence:

The student will be able to:

• Conduct and interpret measurements using a variety of instruments and methods
• Analyze and present quantitative results in graphs and tables
• Interpret results and draw conclusions based on them

Learning methods and activities

Lecture and discussion 30 hours

Laboratory work: 20 hours mandatory

Compulsory assignments

Data analysis assignments, short scientific research article

Further on evaluation

The exam counts for 40% of the grade on the course.

Portfolio (60% of final grade):

• Data analysis worksheets 50% of portfolio grade / 30% of final grade
• Short scientific article 50% of portfolio grade / 30% of final grade

In the case of 'fail' or 'retake':

• A final examination is held during the exam period each semester. The written exam can be changed to an oral exam in the semester when the course is not taught.
• Portfolio can be retaken by following the teaching again.

Appeals:

• You must appeal within three weeks after the grade has been published or you've received an explanation of your grade.

Recommended previous knowledge

BI1007 or equivalent course in introductory plant physiology

Required previous knowledge

BI 1007 or equivalent introductory course in plant physiology

Course materials

Taiz, Lincoln, and Eduardo Zeiger. Plant Physiology. 6th ed. Sunderland, Mass.: Sinauer Associates, 2014. Selected journal articles.

Credit reductions