91403 - Laboratory of Biodiversity and Evolution of Plants

Learning outcomes

The main educational objective of this course is to offer an advanced-level overview of the characteristics of all the main groups of photoautotrophic organisms, discussed by identifying the key morphological, physiological, functional, ecological adaptations, which are also the basis for the use of these organisms as indicators and proxies in environmental sciences. Special emphasis is on the acquisition of professional knowledge on distinctive characters, procedures, materials and resources (texts, websites, etc.) for the taxonomic identification of organisms of the groups considered, i.e.: cyanoprokaryotes, diatoms, all the main algal groups, bryophytes (hornworts, liverworts, mosses), tracheophytes (vascular plants: lycophytes, ferns, Gymnosperms, Angiosperms).

Course contents

The name and content of the course may be subject to changes due to teaching requirements

Evolution of Land plants (Embryophytes). Macroevolution and microevolution. The 3 plant genomes. Neutral markers and analysis of genetic variation. Pollen/seed-mediated gene flow. Plastid DNA and phylogeographic patterns. PCR of non-coding cpDNA regions. Separation of amplified sequences by electrophoresis. Sequences alignment and data processing through multivariate and Bayesian analyses.

Biodiversity monitoring and estimation: field surveys and samples collection, data analysis. Identification of biological samples with the aid of analytical keys.

 

Readings/Bibliography

On-line distribution of didactic material.

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons.

Practical indoor wet-lab activity.

Practical training in field-work (data collection). Tutorial.

In consideration of the types of activities and teaching methods adopted, the attendance of this training activity requires the performance of all students of modules 1 and 2 in e-learning mode and participation in module 3 of specific training on safety and health in the places of study. Information on dates and methods of attendance of module 3 can be consulted in the specific section of the degree program website.

Assessment methods

The end-of-course exam aims to assess the achievement of learning objectives, referred to the following topics: conventional definitions of Biodiversity; main approaches to the analysis of biodiversity; factors contributing to the intraspecific diversity; monitoring techniques of plant diversity in the field; biodiversity indexes and informatic tools commonly used in the elaboration of the data collected in the field. Macroevolution and main apomorphies of Plants. Characteristics of the three genomes of the plant cell; differences between functional DNA and extragenic DNA; use of neutral molecular markers in the analysis of microevolutionary phenomena; techniques of molecular systematics based on extraction and amplification of DNA; visualization and analysis of PCR products; processing of molecular data using the most common statistical methods of multivariate and bayesian analyses. Knowledge of habitats that represent hotspots of biodiversity. The examination is oral.

Teaching tools

Power-Point presentations

Field and lab equipments

Office hours

See the website of Marco Cantonati