65848 - Plant Biodiversity

Learning outcomes

The end of the course the student has the essential knowledge about the main groups of living autotrophs, as well as some elementary notions about the biology of fungi and bacteria. It is able to recognize some families of Spermatophytes of relevant agro-forestry interest and to correctly use the scientific botanical nomenclature. He also knows the main approaches to the study of plant diversity in a territory and the main regulations for the protection of biodiversity. With reference to the regional territory, the student knows the distribution of the most widespread forest communities and is able to recognize the most widespread wood species.

Course contents

1.0 Generalities and classifications: concept of species, binomial classification, hierarchical structure of the classification systems, Cronquist and APGIII classification, main botanical families, botanical nomenclature code and code of cultivated plants.

2.0 The Plant Kingdom: taxonomy and evolution. Basic concepts, morphological organization, biology and ecology of the main taxa. Bryophytes. Meaning of aplonte cycle, diplonte and apodiplonte, sporophyte and gametophyte. Pteridophyte isospores and heterospores. Spermatophytes: gymnosperms and angiosperms.

3.0 Concepts of competition, allelopathy and symbiosis: Mechanisms of radical and aerial competition, allelopathic interactions: concept of symbiosis. Examples of mutualistic flora-fauna co-evolution. Notes on the theory of symbiogenesis.

4.0 Morphology of angiosperms: Spores, ovule, pollen granule, flower, seed, fruit and their evolutionary-functional meaning. Morphology of the seeds of the various crops. Botanical aspects of the various crops and identification of the so-called "wild relatives" of the main species. Concept of domestication and global domestication areas. Potential gene-flux between wild and crop species.

5.0 Biology of reproduction in angiosperms: Autogamous, anemogamous and entomogamous flora. Notes on pollen morphology. Hybrid and polyploid species concept. Seed germination, dormancy and longevity. Dispersal mechanisms (biotic and abiotic), soil seed bank: botanical, morphological and ecological aspects. Self-burial mechanisms.

6.0 Vegetative propagation: agamic propagation organs (stolons, rhizomes, tubers, bulbs). Apomittic and vivipary propagation. Examples of the various vegetative reproduction mechanisms in some of the main botanical families such as Poaceae, Asteraceae, Liliaceae, Cyperaceae, Polygonaceae, Convolvulaceae, Rosaceae, Oxalidaceae, Iridaceae e Ranunculaceae.

7.0 Plant eco-physiology: autotrophic, hemi-parasite and holo-parasite flora. Light exhigences, concept of "compensation point", and photoperiodic responses. R and K Strategies, Grime Classification, Raunkiær Classification, Hellenberg Indexes.

8.0 Ecology of important floristic groups: Flora xerophyte, hydrophyte, pioneer. Notes and examples of climbing flora, allergenic flora. Dune flora (pioneer, fixer, hind-dune, stabilizer). Origin of the various species: native, archaeophytes, neophytes, recent exotic.

9.0 Concept of geobotany, signs of chorology, vegetation maps. Plant response to climograms and floristic examples of macro-climate and micro-climate. Main forest communities organized in altitudinal bands. Concept of orophilous and endemic flora. Ecological and phytosociology niche concepts.

10.0 Vegetation dynamics: Concept of ecological successions, Climax, ecological disturbance, ecological transitions, definition of ecotone. Concept of resilience to ecological disturbance (biotic and abiotic).

11.0Plant biodiversity: Concept of biodiversity and "ecosystem services". Concept of functional groups. Biodiversity hot spots in the world. Feed-back extinction risks of flora-fauna. Biodiversity conservation: habitat conservation, ecological corridors, seed banks (from Vavilov to Svalbard).

Readings/Bibliography

1) Plant biology (Sandro Pignatti Ed.) UTET, 2) General Botany and Plant Diversity. III edition, Pasqua et al., 2015 -, Piccin, Padova, 2) Scientific publications agreed and / or provided by the teacher for possible FOCUS on program topics, 3) Pdf of the lessons that will be included in E-learning.

Teaching methods

Classroom lessons and both laboratory and field exercises

Assessment methods

ORAL. Optional (1): Mini-Herbarium (10-20 plants chosen by the candidate); Optional (2): Focus (short oral description) of an international article concerning the topics of the program.

Teaching tools

laboratory microscopes

Office hours

See the website of Stefano Benvenuti