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    Overview

    Historical biogeography of plants; plant adaptations and vegetation dynamics; world biome types; plants and society; human impacts on vegetation.

    About this paper

    Paper title Plants, People and the Environment
    Subject Geography
    EFTS 0.15
    Points 18 points
    Teaching period Semester 2 (On campus)
    Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) $1,173.30
    International Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website.
    Prerequisite
    54 GEOG points
    Restriction
    GEOG 287
    Schedule C
    Arts and Music, Science
    Contact
    geography@otago.ac.nz
    Teaching staff

    Course Co-ordinator: Dr Ralf Ohlemüller

    Paper Structure

    Lectures:
    The lectures in this paper will provide you with the necessary background knowledge and understanding of the main concepts and ideas covered by this paper. The paper is structured into four main parts:

    • Evolutionary and historical aspects of plant diversity
    • Environmental drivers of plant function and vegetation patterns
    • Understanding global vegetation types
    • Human uses of and threats to plants and vegetation

    Laboratories:
    The laboratories linked to the paper comprise a series of practical exercises on various aspects of plant and vegetation studies to be completed over eight weeks. You will be allocated to one of five groups, and the exercises are organised on a round robin basis: each group progressively works through the set of exercises, week by week. A practical manual will be provided before the practical's start, and this will contain full details of each exercise, together with the necessary theory and explanatory material for each topic. A dedicated demonstrator will work with each group each week.

    Assessment is 50% internal (on-going during the semester) and 50% external (final examination).

    Teaching Arrangements

    Two lectures per week and a series of 3-hour laboratories scheduled over the 13 weeks of semester.

    Textbooks

    There is no set textbook for this paper. Relevant primary literature will be pointed out to you during the course of the paper. It will be necessary and useful to consult a number of texts. In addition, specific sources will be listed for some of the topics, especially those relating to human impacts on vegetation, to reflect the type of research currently being carried out on these issues. Suggested reading material will be given in each lecture.

    The following texts all cover some aspects of the paper and are available on reserve in the Science Library:

    • Adams, J.M. (2010) Vegetation-climate interaction — how plants make the global environment. Springer Verlag. (ebook at Otago library).
    • Archibold, O.W. (1995) Ecology of world vegetation. Chapman & Hall.
    • Bonan, G.B. (2008) Ecological climatology: concepts and applications. Cambridge University Press.
    • Breckle, S.W. (2002) Walter's vegetation of the Earth: the ecological systems of the geo-biosphere.
    Graduate Attributes Emphasised
    Communication, Critical thinking, Environmental literacy, Information literacy, Research.
    View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.
    Learning Outcomes
    By the end of the paper you will have:
    • Developed an understanding of the evolution and functioning of plants
    • Gained insights into patterns and processes shaping vegetation types and their geographic distribution at a range of spatial scales
    • Examined the threats to plants and vegetation and the natural and anthropogenic processes driving vegetation change
    • Reviewed the extent to which plants and vegetation play a role in human life
    • Developed the necessary skills for conducting basic plant identifications, vegetation surveys and data analyses

    Timetable

    Semester 2

    Location
    Dunedin
    Teaching method
    This paper is taught On Campus
    Learning management system
    Blackboard

    Lecture

    Stream Days Times Weeks
    Attend
    L1 Tuesday 10:00-10:50 29-35, 37-42
    Wednesday 11:00-11:50 29-35, 37-42

    Practical

    Stream Days Times Weeks
    Attend one stream from
    P1 Monday 14:00-16:50 30-35, 37-42
    P2 Tuesday 14:00-16:50 30-35, 37-42
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