BIOL 322 Plant Diversity & Evolution with Lab

Plants have evolved a stunning diversity of forms and reproductive strategies, occupy some incredibly challenging ecological niches, and form the basis of food chains and human economic systems. This course surveys plant types emphasizing morphology, reproduction, ecology, geography, and the evolution of major groups. This includes examining water relations, photosynthesis, respiration, and plant-soil and plant-animal interactions that determine the relationships between plants and their physical and biological environments. This course will also explore the history of plant use in society, including the evolving relationships between humans and plants as food, medicine, fuel, fibers, and dyes. Laboratories will involve original research design, data analysis, discussion of literature, presentation of ideas in a variety of formats, and field-oriented components stressing plant identification and ecology.