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Unit of study_
BIOL2031: Plants and Environment
2025 unit information
Plants grow across a range of environments, influencing form, function and ultimately reproductive success. Being sessile, plants lack the luxury of seeking an alternative 'stress-free lifestyle' and therefore rely on genetic and physical adaptations to survive and reproduce. To understand how a plant can achieve such flexibility requires knowledge of plant structure and the influence of environmental drivers on plant growth and function. In this unit, you will examine the physiological processes controlling plant growth and reproduction linked to environmental constraints. You will understand the relationship between tissue and cellular structure and their underlying role in physiological and metabolic activities, particularly processes involving light capture, photosynthesis, water regulation, nutrient management and metabolite redistribution. Lectures and interactive practicals will together introduce you to plant processes that underpin life on earth. Experimentation and analysis of plant physiological processes will develop a skill base that will lead to a greater understanding and appreciation of common plant processes. As a component of the Plant Science minor and the Plant Production major, BIOL2031 will provide an important platform to extend your interests in plant science and plant related fields across the curriculum.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Science
| Study level | Undergraduate |
|---|---|
| Academic unit | Life and Environmental Sciences Academic Operations |
| Credit points | 6 |
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Prerequisites:
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None |
|---|---|
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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AGEN2005 or BIOL3043 or BIOL3943 or BIOL2931 |
| Assumed knowledge:
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Knowledge of concepts and skills in BIOL1XX6 |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. understand basic plant principles governing carbon fixation, water balance, nutrient uptake, growth, partitioning, reproduction, stress response and death
- LO2. use technical equipment to understand core concepts linked to carbon capture, the role of water and minerals on growth, resource exchange between tissues and the underlying intricacies of plant development
- LO3. demonstrate inquiry and problem solving skills through practical classes which focus on experimentation, data collection, data analysis and presentation
- LO4. demonstrate effective scientific communication by producing written, visual, and oral work on practical results and relevant topics linked to plant physiology, independently and as part of groups
- LO5. complete pre-reading prior to lab practicals and be fit to carry out experiments independently where appropriate, and work alongside peers in an effective and collaborative manner
Unit availability
This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.
The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.
| Session | MoA ? | Location | Outline ? |
|---|---|---|---|
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Semester 2 2025
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Normal day | Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney |
Outline unavailable
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Modes of attendance (MoA)
This refers to the Mode of attendance (MoA) for the unit as it appears when you’re selecting your units in Sydney Student. Find more information about modes of attendance on our website.
