PLSCI 2410 - Introductory Plant Diversity and Evolution

(BIO-AG, OPHLS-AG)

Fall. 3 credits. Letter grades only.

K. Niklas.

Introduction to plant diversity, ecology, structure, and evolutionary adaptation, with an emphasis on land plants. Laboratory and lectures are integrated to provide hands-on skills and concepts. First and second weeks of laboratory are field trips, starting with the first full week of classes. This course is suitable for life sciences majors.

Outcome 1: Identify cells, tissues, and organ systems that comprise multicellular plants, and discuss how these emergent systems support plant functions.

Outcome 2: Distinguish among the major land plant lineages.

Outcome 3: Identify the three major plant life cycles and to conceptually connect how these life cycles are related to one another.

Outcome 4: Communicate the basic principles of Darwinian evolution by means of natural selection and the major principles of plant biology.