PLANT BIODIVERSITY AND TAXONOMY
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Bibliography
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
The students of this class need to have a basic knowledge on biology.
There will be a unique final examination. To be admitted to the final examination it is mandatory to provide the personal/individual herbarium which has to be formally approved by the professor.
This class aims to provide the basic knowledge relating to botany referring to the main characteristics of plants (across different systematic groups), the differences and evolution of Tallophytes and Vascular Plants, their systematic asset, through an evolutionary and phylogenetic approach, to allow developing the ability/capability to recognize the different plant types (from the main taxonomic levels, such as divisions, to the main plant families) and to analyze the vegetation components of the natural environments using a critical approach, focusing on the main scientific research priorities and problems, as well as to select the suitable methods for environmental analyses and management. This knowledge will be useful for the students following the class of Environmental Botany and will provide basic knowledge allowing to the students to follow other specific classes focusing on Botany, in particular for Evolution and Systematics of Plants.
The laboratory training will be devoted to the practical application of the knowledge achieved. This knowledge will be useful also for the preparation of the herbarium, a key educational activity useful for the practical application of the theoretical issues finalized to the species determination. These practical capabilities will be very important to perform successful working performances on environmental topics. Among the practical activities, beyond the laboratory training, also one or two field trips will be carried out to perform direct observations of plants both in their natural environment and/or in botanical gardens.
Main general characteristics of plants: main characteristics of the plant cell, plant organization and main characteristics of the vascula plant structure.
Main differences between Tallophytes and Vascular Plants.
Basic knowledge a) on plants biodiversity and systematics within a taxonomic frame based on evolutive and phylogenetic criteria, with special reference to the understanding of the evolution of the main plant structures and groups and of their ecological and adaptative value in relation also to the development of plant structures and functions, and b) to the practical recognition/determination of the main taxonomic groups (families, genera, species) relevant to plant systematic, ecology and economy. In particular:
Plant taxonomy, main systematic features, speciation processes and main plant reproductive strategies. Organization of plant biodiversity in systematic groups (eukarya) using cladistics and phylogenetic criteria.
H. lectures: 2; h. laboratory practices: 0.
Prokaryota
Cyanobacteria: (Cyanobacteriophyta).
H. lectures: 2; h. laboratory practices: 0.
Eukarya
Biodiversity of eukaryotic organisms from Algae to Angiosperms
Eukaryotic Algae: main morphological characteristics, organization levels, reproduction stratigies, ecology. Taxonomy: Heterocontophyta; Rhodophyta; Chlorophyta.
H. lectures: 6; h. laboratory practices: 0.
Mycota: main morphological characteristics, organization levels, reproduction stratigies, ecology. Taxonomy: Oomycota, Eumycota.
H. lectures: 6; h. laboratory practices: 0.
Lichens: main morphological characteristics, organization levels, reproduction stratigies, ecology. Taxonomy: Ascolichens, Basydiolichens.
H. lectures: 2; h. laboratory practices: 0.5.
Bryophytes: main morphological characteristics, organization levels, reproduction strategies, ecology. Taxonomy: Anthocerotopsida, Marchantiopsida, Jungermanniopsida, Bryopsida.
H. lectures: 4; h. laboratory practices: 0.5.
Pteridophytes: main morphological characteristics, organization levels, reproduction stratigies, ecology. Taxonomy: Psilotopsida, Lycopodiopsida, Equisetopsida, Pteridopsida.
H. lectures: 4; h. laboratory practices: 0.5.
Spermatophytes: main characteristics of Gymnosperms and Angiosperms.
Gymnosperms: main morphological characteristics, organization levels, reproduction stratigies, ecology. Taxonomy: Coniferophytina (Gynkgoopsida, Pinopsida) and Cycadophytina (Cycadopsida e Gnetopsida).
H. lectures: 4; h. laboratory practices: 1.
Angiosperms: main morphological characteristics, organization levels, reproduction stratigies, ecology. Taxonomy: Magnoliopsida and Rosopsida (Dicotyledons), Liliopsida (Monocotyledons). Knowledge of the main famiglie with reference to important species of the Italian flora: Ranunculaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Fagaceae, Betulaceae, Ulmaceae, Rosaceae, Fabaceae, Aceraceae, Apiaceae, Salicaceae, Brassicaceae, Ericaceae, Oleaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Lamiaceae, Asteraceae, Liliaceae, Poaceae, Orchidaceae, Cyperaceae.
H. lectures: 12; h. laboratory practices: 2.5.
The lecture slides (files .pptx or .pdf) will be provided to the students at the end of the lectures of each main topic.
The text book is the following: Strasburger. Trattato di Botanica. Volume 2: Sistematica e Geobotanica. Antonio Delfino Editore
The teaching activities will include lectures and laboratory practices/training. The lectures will be performed through teledidactics turning between the lecture site between Como and Varese. The practices/training activities will be carried out in laboratory with the assistance of suitable personnel (20 hours) and of the professor (20 hours). Also for the laboratory training will be performed a site turning with 10 hours performed at Varese and 10 hours performed at Como. Moreover a two days field trip will be carried out
The visiting time will be personalized and will be fixed by e-mail.