13395 - Evolutionary Botany

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student has an appropriate knowledge of diversity relative to Plant reign interpreted in the light of phylogenetic processes, and is able to identify the principal taxa from their macro- and micromorphological features

Course contents

Evolutionary theories and Taxonomy: Natural ladders, Phylogenetic trees, Cladograms. Phyletic relationships within the Chlorobionta. Comparative survey of the principal clades of Land plants. Laboratory work including macroscopic and microscopic observations of specimens belonging to different groups of Land plants.

Readings/Bibliography

G. Barsanti - Una lunga pazienza cieca - Einaudi ed. 2005

M.G. Simpson - Plant Systematics - Elsevier Academic Press 2006

on-line distribution of didactic material, available at AMS Campus - AlmaDL - UniBo

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons and practical training

Assessment methods

The end-of-course exam aims to assess the achievement of learning objectives: knowledge of the main evolutionary theories (Transformism, Variationism); ability of distinguishing between artificial and natural systems of classification; acquisition of the basic principles of Phylogenetic systematics or Cladistics; identification of formal clades relative to the following photosynthetic Eukaryotes: Green Plants, Land Plants, Vascular Plants, Seed Plants, Flowering Plants. Ability of identifying plants representative of different taxonomic groups (Bryophyta, Pteridophyta, Gimnospermae, Angiospermae) based on micro- and macromorphological characters. Characterization of families representative of basal Angiosperms and Eudicots.   
The examination is carried out in oral shape and involves an evaluation expressed in thirtieths. It includes a discussion on the topics of learning objectives presented in the lessons and the identification of a Land plant based on the acquired knowledge. 

Teaching tools

Power-Point presentations, lab equipment

Links to further information

http://www.unibo.it/docenti/lucia.conte

Office hours

See the website of Lucia Conte