Plant Ecophysiology

Code:

B210

Acronym:

B210

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Biology

Instance: 2013/2014 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Biology
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Landscape Architecture

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
L:AP	30	Planos de estudos a partir 2009	2	-	7,5	-
L:AST	0	Plano de Estudos a partir de 2008	3	-	7,5	-
L:CC	0	Plano de estudos de 2008 até 2013/14	3	-	7,5	-
L:F	1	Plano de estudos a partir de 2008	3	-	7,5	-
L:G	2	P.E - estudantes com 1ª matricula anterior a 09/10	3	-	7,5	-
		P.E - estudantes com 1ª matricula em 09/10	3	-	7,5	-
L:M	0	Plano de estudos a partir de 2009	3	-	7,5	-
L:Q	0	Plano de estudos Oficial	3	-	7,5	-

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

The basic objective of the course is to make the student understand the physiological mechanism underpinning plant responses to environmental conditions. The course will especially focus on the interaction of the plant with the surrounding physical, chemical, and biological environments, highlighting plant behaviour in environmental stress situations.

Learning outcomes and competences

The accomplishment of the objectives above outlined will allow the students have the skill to:

(a) to interpret signals of lack or excess of minerals in soil;

(b) to define strategies for soil and environment remediation

(c) to define strategies for biodinamic defence of plant species based in plant metabolites

(d) to manipulate and to condition the plants development, based in the knowledge of their hormonal regulation

(e) to select, criteriously plant species for establishment in a given microhabitat

(f) to multiply and acclimatize plant species to a a given microhabitat.

Working method

Presencial

Program

 

Phytohormons: auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins, ethylene, abscisic acid and brassinosteroids: concepts, biosynthesis, structure, physiological effects and applications; Nutrition and assimilation of nutrients: minerals nutritional deficiencies, symptoms and treatment; conditions of soil and absorption systems, transport and assimilation of mineral nutrients; Secondary metabolites and some of its functions, use of secondary metabolites as biocontrol agents (BCAs).

Photosynthesis: general concepts, physiological and ecological considerations. Phytochrome and photocontrol of plant development;  Morphogenesis and movement of stomata in response to blue light.  Control of flowering. Physiological responses and adaptations of plants to environmental stress abiotic: water stress; heat stress; luminous stress; oxidative stress. Responses and adaptations to biotic stress: defence of plants to attack by herbivores and pathogens and response to the presence of antagonist plants. 

Mandatory literature

Lambers, Hans, Chapin, III, F. Stuart, Pons, Thijs L.; Plant Physiological ecology, Springer, 2008. ISBN: ISBN 978-0-387-78340-6
Taiz Lincoln; Plant physiology. ISBN: 978-0-87893-866-7

Teaching methods and learning activities

Lectures and laboratory classes. Lectures are presented in slideshow using the software "PowerPoint". Laboratory classes enable the acquisition of specific skills, including those arising from the implementation of practical experiments. These classes are compulsory.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	70,00
Participação presencial	3,00
Trabalho escrito	27,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	158,00
Frequência das aulas	67,00
Total:	225,00

Eligibility for exams

Mandatory attendance at lectures and practices – minimum 2/3 and completion of a report of the pratical work.

Exemption will be given of theoretical and practical lessons to students who obtained frequency  at UC in 2 years prior

Calculation formula of final grade

Evaluation criteria

a) Continuous evaluation, based on participation, punctuality and attendance at classes  

b) Final report on the practical lessons (1 report per group)

 

c) Evaluation by frequencies: 1st written test in the middle of the semester (± 50% of the material of the lectures ) + 2nd written test at the end of the semester (± 50% of the material of the lectures). To qualify for the second test, the student must obtain a minimum score of 8/20 in the first test.

d) Exam evaluation.Comprehensive written examination (theoretical and practical lessons). Exemption of the written examination is only possible upon obtaining the minimum average of 10/20 of the two tests.

 

Conditions for approval in discipline

To be approved this course the student will have to have at least a 10 rating on component (b) and a rating of 10 on component (c), or (d) component, considering the scale of 0-20.

 

Calculation of the Final mark

Contribution of the component evaluation) for the final ranking: 3% 

Contribution of evaluation of component b) to a final ranking: 27%

Contribution of component c) assessment for the final ranking: 70%

 

 

Students reteating the UC will be assessed and ranked on the basis of a written exam

 

Special Assessment

The report referred to in subparagraph (b)) of the assessment criteria shall be made and signed by all the members of the group set up for execution of the works and will affect equally the students of this group.

 

 

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Mandatory completion of a report, concerning the work of practical lessons, for obtaining frequency.

Classification improvement

To improve final grade students need to apply for new exam, according to the current legislation on the subject.